feature

by Jennifer Finkel

Left Mon Rockowltz of Jerusalem and
Josh Newman of Bloomfield Hills hold on
to a just-caught salmon as Josh Fishman

Alaska's allure

of Farmington Hills looks on.
Below: Taking a break from sea kayaking:

Tamarack summer experience brings
a true sense of family amid glorious nature.

laska. Who knew this sin- pass it to another member
gle word would change the of the tribe.
With our rituals, we
lives of a group of Jewish
would do a group hug, talk
kids from Metro Detroit forever?
None of us knew at the beginning about our day and how
that we were about to embark on a much we loved each other.
Before every meal we
summer trip as life-defining as it was.
I came on the (Oakland County- would say the blessings.
based) Tamarack Camps trip a bit hes- We also had Friday night
itantly. I must be crazy to spend seven services and Havdalah. No
weeks in a bus with 23 other campers matter where we were, we
and six staff members. We were a bit would light the candles and
go around saying the best
crazy, but that was the fun in it.
The first day we started with an ac- and worst moments of the
tivity called I Have A Link. One per- week and what we learned.
son says a personal fact and another This was known as "ros-
person who shares this fact runs to- es, thorns and stems." We
ward them. The game continues until looked forward to spending
Shabbat with each other.
everyone is connected.
Throughout the trip, the links in- Missing even one tradition made the
creased as we found out more about whole day seem off. They helped us
each other. We slowly grew into a form our identity.
Not only did we impact each other's
family. We created our own traditions,
lives, we also made an impact wherev-
like any family would over the years.
One tradition was passing around er we went. People were always ask-
a flag worn each day by a different ing what we were doing. They were
person who would draw on it to signi- amazed by our answer every time.
One event truly stuck out. We
fy what happened that day, and then

Aaron Schaer, Huntington Woods; Steven

Siegel, Arizona; Samuel Carson, San
Diego; Jennifer Finkel, West Bloomfield;

Josh Sider, Huntington Woods; Charlotte
Master, Northville; Sara Langnas and
Seth Feldman, both West Bloomfield; and

Samantha Superstine, Birmingham.

-

were singing and our supervisor,
Aaron Schaer, was playing guitar at
this restaurant after hours. We put on
a small show for the employees. As
we finished, the owner told us how
we helped put her faith back into the
future of the world. She said she be-
lieves the world is in a good place af-
ter spending the night with us.
Not only did we make her summer,

we also changed our own lives.
Walking onto the bus was the
best decision I ever made. Before
the trip, Alaska was a destination.
Now Alaska stands for lifelong
friendships, everlasting memo-
ries, an experience of a lifetime
and much more than I could ex-
plain in words.
Tamarack's Alaska trip is
climbing mountains, sea kayak-
ing in chilling winds, catching
salmon, pitching tents with your
best friends, doing Havdalah on
the Chilkoot Trail and much more
than that. Alaska is one word that will
never lose its im-
portance or mean-
ing.

Jennifer Finkel, 16, is a

junior at West Bloom-

field High School.

youth groups

by Sam Gringlas

dressed for mess

Michigan Region BBYO kicks off the year with creative "Paint War."

who is in charge of girls' member- with BBYO."
t seemed a little odd. When washable paint.
After indulging in hot dogs and two
"Everyone was really excited about ship for the region. "We started off
most teens attend the first social
_ gathering of the year, they usu- the idea and had a great time," said with some ice breakers, then added a hours of messy fun, attendees left sat-
ally dress their best. Some spend Eden Adler, 17, of Farmington Hills, painted twist to some fun games like isfied and literally covered with paint.
"Everyone was laughing and hav-
Water Balloon Toss, Tug
hours trying on the new-
ing
a great time," Adler said. "Overall,
of
War
and
Capture
the
est, trendiest outfits. But
it was a very successful program that
Flag."
on Sunday, Sept. 5, 281
we are really proud of."
Michael
Higer,
17,
of
teens dressed for mess.
Greenberg AZA chapter president
Farmington Hills, who
This sunny, early fall
Jordan Correll, 17, of Farmington
heads
boys
regional
mem-
afternoon, Drake Sports
bership, said, "Kickoff is Hills, said, "It was so fun because I got
Park in West Bloomfield
the starting point of the to hang out with my whole chapter for
played host to BBYO Paint
year and [this year's] was the first time in months. It's a very re-
War: Fall Kickoff 2010.
a new creative program freshing feeling."
The annual kickoff
For information on joining a BBYO
people hadn't experienced
welcomed perspective
chapter, call Jared
before. It's important be-
BBYO members as well
Rothberger at (248)
cause it's a great way to get
as offered the chance for
432-5685.
chapters to start recruiting
current ones to reconnect
new members and for Teen
with their friends after the
Sam Gringlas, 17,
Connection (BBYO's orga-
summer. For the first time, Greenberg AZA's team: (back) Ron Israel, Gerald Rivkin, Andrew Joseph,
is a junior at
nization for middle-school
though, activities involved Adam Busse II, Michael Higer, Max Kendler, Jordan Correll, Sam Gringlas;
North Farmington
teens) to come together
High School.
a rainbow-colored array of (front) Max Goldman, Ben Stollman, Adam Rozenberg

j

teen2teen September 23 . 2010 TT3