famil focus

Winterfest

A snowy day at Camp Maas
recalls summer camping fun.

Emily, Michael and Kaitlin Jacoby of Birmingham

Gabe Neistein

Special to the Jewish News

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24 January 19 • 2012

iN

T

he Jewish camping experience
remains one of the most influ-
ential components of creating
a child's Jewish identity. Last month,
Tamarack Camps and the Jewish
Community Center's Day Camps col-
laborated to prove that a quality Jewish
camping program can occur beyond
the summer months.
Winterfest was held Dec. 28 during
winter recess from school. Two bus-
loads of campers.in grades 1-7 went
to Camp Maas in Ortonville for a fun-
filled day at camp.
"The children in our community
are very fortunate to have two great
programs in the JCC and Tamarack
Camps:' said Donna Pelon, assistant
director for JCC Day Camps. "Each
camp has something for everyone, and
each plays an integral role in growing
our community"
The event featured donut-making,
rope-making, arts and crafts, a live
animal show and even a special camp-
fire with a traditional camp staple —
s'mores.
"Winterfest was a window into the
overnight camping world, providing
JCC day campers a snapshot of a resi-
dential facility and chance to play in a
safe, fun and-Jewish environment:' said
Lee Trepeck, Camp Maas director. "The
program also showed summer camp-
ers that our playground is suitable for
winter activity — and we loved being
together for an 'off-season reunion."
Debbie Landau, Camp Maas assis-
tant director, and Carly Weinstock,
Tamarack's program director, worked

Hannah and Josh Aronow of Ann Arbor

together to create the event.
"There's no question that my time
at Tamarack has provided me with the
best Jewish education, life education
and camp skills that anyone could ever
ask foe said Pelon, who spent 12 years
at Tamarack in various camp posi-
tions."I feel in my current position I
am molding and coaching the younger
JCC campers to become confident and
stronger residential campers, using
what I learned at Tamarack every day
to do it."
With the success of this event, the
JCC and Tamarack Camps are consid-
ering expanding Winterfest to multiple
days this season.
"It didn't matter what age you were,
whether it was the coldest day of the
year or warmest, whether it was a kid's
first time at camp or their 20th, every-
one just had a great time — and that's
what camp is all about:' Landau said. I I

Gabe Neistein is a development associate

for Tamarack Camps.

