Tamarack alumni at Kings Canyon in Yosemite National Park: Robert Blacher, Joel Smith, Noah Siegel, Joe Lash, Jeff Michaelson and Daniel Findling. Tamarack Camps believes camp tripping instills many virtues in young campers. Sept. 20th ® 11am Laura Adler Special to the Jewish News Paula Doak- The Merry Music Maker T Join us as music comes alive in this delightful, interactive musical program E nInteractive e n tir WEST BLOOMFIELD • MICHIGAN Orchard Wm Road • North of Maple For more info visit: www.orchardmallwb.com 44441 11100 i1 it .vai; 2 30715 WEST TE 'MILE RD.; n FARMINGTO 8336 COM 3033 1 Experience Authentic Mexican Cuisine NA A A s Buy One Entree at Reg. Price, Got 2nd Entree 50% with 2 Beverages n Offer valid one per table. Dine in Only. With coupon. Not valid with any other offer One coupon per visit. Expires 10/11/14. r k $5 OFF low Ikilau6 Two Creat locations to Serue You 77O kigertri,VdostBloomflold 21125 RiR418Rd,LIvonla tivailNibbleNook.com 248-669-3341 Catering Carry.Out 104 September 18 • 2014 m 218-474-0155 Party Facilities Any Purchase of S25 or More MI Facebook Find us on Offer valid one per table. Dine in Only. With coupon. Not valid with any other offer One coupon per visit. Expires 10/11/14. he sound of water rushing over rocks, twigs crackling underneath your boots, the scent of pine trees. All take you back to the basics of nature and the beauty of camping. There is something so pure and invigorating about being on a camping trip and bonding with friends that makes you look back and realize how fortunate you are for having that experience. It sometimes is a challenge in the midst of a difficult hike or in the middle of canoeing on an endless lake, but you always look back on the experi- ence with awe. To be able to say "we did that" and to become united as a group is one of the most rewarding accom- plishments to achieve as a camper and as a staff person at Tamarack Camps. "The opportunity to form lifelong friendships in an outdoor Jewish com- munal setting is a priceless experi- ence' said Andrew Landau, past chair of Tamarack Camps' Teen Programs Committee. "Tamarack Camps creates the leaders of tomorrow by encouraging and facilitating valuable life skills — leadership, communication and team- work — that will enhance the campers' lives for years to come. "Anyone who has experienced Tamarack's Outpost Camps and Teen Travel Programs can attest to how lucky they are to have had the opportunity to participate:' In Tamarack Camps' 113-year his- tory, thousands of campers have experienced tripping in places includ- ing the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan, Alaska and national parks in the western United States, Canadian Rockies and northern Ontario. For many, it is the first of many trips and a springboard for a future of camping throughout their lives. "My lifelong love of wilderness camp- ing began on a four-day hiking trip for DeRoy Village campers the sum- mer I was 10:' said Tamarack Camps alum Joel Smith. "It was cemented by the weeklong canoe trip I took as a Robinson Pioneer camper two sum- mers later. After experiencing Agree Outpost Camp for two years, I came back as tripping staff to share and teach my love of camping to young campers:' Of course, the destination of the trip is not nearly as important as the jour- ney and the people you are with. "All my summers at Tamarack Camps created lifelong friendships that continue today:' Smith said. "Every two years, a group of 8-10 friends (most of us are Tamarack alumni) gets together for a four-day hiking trip in the mountains. We all agree that our adult daily lives are influenced by the self-reliance we learned while camping and by an understanding of teamwork gained from communal living:' While many camps over the years have become more specialized offer- ing skill-building opportunities and, in turn, have eliminated their camping programs, Tamarack Camps has prided itself on its progressive camping and tripping programs. Tripping remains a central component of the Tamarack summer experience. In fact, more than 1,000 Camp Maas campers, 50 Camp Kennedy campers, 23 Agree Outpost campers, 75 Western Trip campers and 48 Alaska campers go on camping trips each summer. Tamarack Camps' incorporation of camp craft skills in wilderness experi- ences not only teaches essential life skills and fosters self-confidence but also creates an appreciation of the out- doors by being "unplugged" from the ever-expanding technological world we live in. Being immersed in nature and away from everyday life fosters a love and respect for the fragile, natural environment and the role we play as stewards. This allows campers to reflect on what is truly important and relevant and to take a step back to truly discover themselves. That is why having the opportunity to go to overnight camp and experience camping has been and always will be a "Tamarack" tradition. ❑ Registration for camp begins soon; for details, go to www.tamarackcamps.com .