Family Focus
Camp Quest
Enjoy one-stop shopping to find perfect summer camp for kids.
F
or 20 years, Metro Detroit's
popular Camp Fair has exposed
parents to the range of camping
programs available to entertaining and
educating their kids. The need remains as
great as ever.
"Choosing the per-
fect program for your
children is a difficult
and intimidating pro-
cedure, but Camp Fair
is one-stop shopping;'
says Elaine Sturman,
president
of Bloomfield
Elaine
Township-based
Elaine
Sturman
S. Events and the annual
fair's coordinator.
"Parents are always looking for new
programs that will interest their children:'
says Sturman, who has organized the fair
from its inception. "As children grow older,
their needs change and families are look-
ing for programs that will fill those needs!'
The healthful, educational climate of
camp remains the focus of "Super Summers
for Kids: Camp Fair," the place to go to find
the right program for preschoolers through
teenagers. This year's Metro Detroit fair will
run Sunday, Feb. 8, in West Bloomfield. For
the second straight year, there also will be an
Ann Arbor version the previous day.
Both locations are new this year.
Camp Fair, hosted by Ferndale-based
Metro Parent magazine, will showcase more
than 70 U.S. and Canadian camps, includ-
ing both day and overnight programs.
Families will have a chance to question
camp representatives.
Parents with two or more kids with dif-
ferent needs will find the event especially
helpful.
"Some children need greater stimula-
tion than others and need to be with their
peers',' Sturman said. "There is never just
one good place for children in the summer."
The American Camping Association or
the state of Michigan license all the camps
represented. The age range served is 2 1/2
to 18.
Choices include academic enrichment,
guided travel, the arts, special needs and
day activities for even young children.
There are varied options for older teens.
Specialty camp themes include computers,
sports, college research, theater and over-
night travel.
Many camps have a community service
component.
There's no shortage of learning oppor-
tunities.
C18
February 5 • 2009
ifs!
"Often, both parents are working and in
need of educational opportunities for their
children that they cannot get at school, but
are great summer learning experiences:'
Sturman said.
Whatever a family's camping need,
Camp Fair should be able to fulfill it,
Sturman said. "Parents should attend
Camp Fairs to see the great variety of pro-
gram offerings:' she said.
Attendees will receive a booklet list-
ing all participating camps as well as key
questions to ask camp officials.
High school and college students inter-
ested in summer jobs will have a chance
to obtain information.
Jewish Participants
Jewish camps represented at the fair,
according to Sturman, include: Center Day
Camps, part of the Jewish Community
Center of Metropolitan Detroit, West
Bloomfield; Oakland County-based
Tamarack Camps, Ortonville; Camp
Wooden Acres, Lexington, Mich.; Camp
Nageela Midwest, Marshall, Ind.
Other overnight camps that are Jewish-
owned, but not specifically Jewish in
structure include Camp Maplehurst
in Kewadin, Mich., Camp Walden in
Cheboygan, Camp Tamakwa in Huntsville,
Ont., Camp Kawaga in Minocqua, Wis.,
and Camp Kodiak in McKellar, Ont.
Jewish-owned day camps include Arnie
and Lorraine Fisher's Camp Willoway
and Art and Libby White's Summer
Impressions. Both are based in West
Bloomfield.
Center Day Camps
The JCC, which draws 1,200 campers,
including boys and girls with special
needs, caters to kids ages 21/2 to 15.
"We participate in
Camp Fair because we
hope to find new camp-
ers whose lives can be
enriched by signing up
for the 2009 summer
season:' said Forest Levy,
director of the JCC's
Center Day Camps and
Forest Levy
Youth & Teen Services.
The JCC features 100 month-long or
week-long camps, including specialty
sports, imaginative and theater camps.
New are Girls Empowered Fashion Spa,
girls' softball, girls' basketball and "High
School Musical" by Girls Empowered.
"Our new Gaming Fit Camp will teach
boys and girls how to become physically fit
in a very fun way — right in our amazing
new Beverly Prentis Wagner Teen Center,"
Levy said. "We also have invited six Israelis,
who will be housed by lucky members of
our Jewish community, to come teach spe-
cialty activities to our traditional campers."
Tamarack Camps
Tamarack campers are entering second
grade through entering 11th grade.
Program updates for this summer include
a new green initiative as well as environ-
mental projects; exciting waterfront activi-
ties at the beach; invigorating community
service projects for counselors-in-train-
ing; ceramics and copper enameling; ath-
letic tournaments with other camps.
"We also are enhancing our canoe and
hiking trips for all of our campers;' said
Jonah Geller, Tamarack's
executive director.
He added,
"We're looking forward
to Camp Fair in order to
meet with parents and
their children and dis-
cuss our exciting camp
programs. The fair's new
Jonah Geller
venue will hopefully
provide a better atmosphere for parents
and children to explore their summer
options and meet representatives from
each camp"
Tamarack's Alumni Family Fun Day is
June 21. I I
Helpful Hints
Tips to consider when evaluating the
programs at Camp Fairs:
Does your child like sports or com-
puters?
Would your child prefer a day camp or
an overnight experience?
What is the typical age range of your
top camp prospects?
What are the camper-to-staff ratios?
What are the camps' medical facili-
ties like?
When are the visiting days?
Are phone calls allowed?
Are references from other parents
available?
What are travel arrangements to the
camps?
Can parents visit camps before
deciding or request a video presen-
tation?
- Source: Elaine Sturman
"Super Summers for Kids: Camp
Fair" will be held on Saturday, Feb.
7, at Concordia University, 4090
Geddes, Ann Arbor (734) 995-
7300), and Sunday, Feb. 8, at West
Bloomfield High School, Orchard
Lake Road, south of Lone Pine.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Free
admission. Information:
www.metroparent.com .
Board of Directors.
He holds degrees from the
University of Michigan and Case
Lee Trepeck is the new director of
Western Reserve University School
Camp Maas, Tamarack Camps' resi-
of Law. His professional experience
dent camp in Ortonville. "Lee brings
includes law, the restaurant
tremendous enthusiasm, busi-
industry, commercial and
ness acumen and a passionate
residential real estate, and real
commitment to the values of
estate Web site development.
Jewish camping to our agen-
He and his wife, Robin,
cy," said Jonah Geller, execu-
and their two children,
tive director.
Jamie, 7, and Andy, 4, live in
He replaces Debbie Landau
Huntington Woods. Reach him
of West Bloomfield, who
at
trepeck®tamarackcamps.
remains with Oakland County- Lee Tre peck
corn
or (248) 647-1100.
based Tamarack Camps in a
Debbie
Landau
is Tamarack Camps'
new capacity.
new
director
of
marketing
and recruit-
Trepeck grew up at Camp Sea-Gull
ment
for
all
agency
programs
(Camp
as a camper and staff member. He
Maas,
Camp
Kennedy,
Agree
Outpost
has served in local leadership roles on
Camp, Western and Alaska Trips,
the New Leaders Project, Federation's
Family Camp Programs, year-round
Young Adult Division Executive Board,
Outdoor Education programs, etc.).
Israel Missions and the Temple Israel
Tamarack Names New
Director For Camp Maas