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Jewish camps have found new
status in the Jewish community.
Campers can enjoy the lake every day at Camp Tamarack.
having an impact with Jewish kids is the
age-old one: Camp is fun.
"It used to be a luxury to go to camp:'
says Landau, "but not anymore. And, for
s the Jewish community
becomes increasingly concerned one-third of our campers, camp is the only
Jewish experience they get."
about Jewish identity and affili-
Landau calls the Tamarack Camps "a big
ation, Jewish camps have jumped a few
Jewish playground." But Assistant Director
notches in the communal pecking order.
Once seen as a luxury, Jewish communal Rachel Ruskin adds, "The kids are getting
summer camps — both day and overnight the playground with a subtle Jewish back-
— now find themselves on the front lines
ground."
They say that campers at Tamarack's
of informal Jewish education.
Camp Maas
in northwest-
ern Oakland
County would
be surprised if
the American
flag was low-
ered at night
without sing-
ing "Hatikvah."
And Shabbat
programs are
competing
with horseback
riding — and
winning.
Judaism is
Camp director Debbie Landau became a bat mitzvah at Camp
just a natural
Tamarack Shabbat services last August.
part of the day,
say Landau
and
Ruskin.
The
campers
say
the appro-
'"We are now seen as one of the three
Birkat
priate
blessings
before
meals
and
pillars shaping Jewish identity' says
afterwards.
No
one
is
pushed
Hamazon
Debbie Landau, director of Fresh Air
to participate; it just becomes the natural
Society's Tamarack Camps. The other two
order of camp.
pillars are a Jewish day school education
The food is kosher and Shabbat services
and a trip to Israel.
are
"fun, interactive and inclusive."
With communal recognition has come
In
addition, Camp Maas hires 20 Israeli
increased funding from philanthropists
counselors
each summer and has been
and organizational support from the
bringing
over
80 Israeli campers, as well.
Foundation for Jewish Camping and the
"They
are
mixed
in with everyone else
Jewish Community Centers Association.
says
Ruskin.
"Bonds
are created and
But the major reason Jewish camps are
Alan Hitsky
Associate Editor
A
friendships are made."
Israeli staffer Eli Rockowitz has been
heading the Judaism and Israel programs
at Maas for four years. His wife, Naomi, is
the liaison for the Israeli campers.
Great Facilities
But none of it would work if camp wasn't
camp. Camp Maas boasts 10,000 acres,
two lakes, two waterfronts, an indoor pool
for inclement weather, two new climb-
ing structures, water skiing, go carts, dirt
bikes, dancing, horseback riding, nature
trails and a confidence course. It has 150
staffers to provide a 3:1 camper-to-staff
ratio.
"We have a jewel here brags Landau,
"and it's close to home. We have short-stay
[10-day] sessions for first-timers and inti-
mate, small villages in a larger facility."
Campers are placed by grade and gen-
der into the villages, which Landau com-
pares to classrooms in a school.
Every camper has the opportunity to
go to the-beach every afternoon, she says,
and she hinted there would be many more
"toys on the lake" next summer.
Behind the fun and games, Tamarack
Camps is emphasizing skill-building. "We
want the children to feel accdmplished,"
says Ruskin. "We are teaching new skills,
but we want them to have a great time
while we are doing it."
Skill-building might mean learning how
to build a fire, properly set up a tent and
basic canoeing techniques, or mastering
something new in arts and crafts. It places
more emphasis on specialists to do more
teaching, but it builds camper confidence
and self-esteem, says Ruskin.
While Tamarack offers two specialty
camps — soccer and dance — Landau
emphasizes that they don't want to offer
too many. "We want the kids to have
opportunities in different areas.
"Camp has changed, but so have the
kids and the parents and the needs of the
community. We evolve she says, "but we
have rooted traditions in the community.
"There are three- and four-genera-
tion Camp Tamarack families. The kids
who went to Fresh Air Camp in 1902
wanted the same thing that kids coming
to Tamarack Camps in 2007 want. We pro-
vide a safe and fun Jewish camp experi-
ence for every child.
"We push the comfort zone in a sup-
portive and encouraging way:' says
Landau. "The kids need to take advantage
of the fact that they don't have their par-
ents around. They need to do two of the
most enjoyable things on Earth at camp
— get loud and messy!"
Graduating
Camp Maas offers programs for campers in grades 2-9.
But, as youngsters get older, they are eligible fbr other Tamarack Camps pro-
grams:
• 9th graders: Agree Outpost Camp in northern Michigan.
• 10th graders: Camp Kennedy in northern Michigan.
• Western bus trip through the western United States.
• Alaska bus trip.
• 11th graders: Teen leadership training through the Teen Service Staff.
December 7 • 2006
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