Camp Guide
Teams Of'Hope'
Tikvah program at Camp Ramah Canada
offers inclusion for kids with special needs.
Wooden Acres...
the best summer camp ever.
"WAC is a lifelong camp family bond that
goes beyond your home family."
- Robin and Richard Gold
"It's small, intimate and everyone knows everyone.
The friendships and memories made are priceless:'
- Staci and Jeff Goldman
"Our children have grown, matured and become more
independent since attending Wooden Acres."
- Rachel and Ben Geller
"Year after year our kids return to Wooden Acres —
not only to go to camp but to go back to their
'home away from home: Wooden Acres is more
than a summer camp, it's a lifetime experience that
gives your campers the true meaning of what
summer camp is really about."
- Pam and Eric Koretz
"I have never experienced a warmer, more caring
and nurturing camp. My child was able to get his
individual needs met; this includes special
dietary considerations due to severe food allergies:'
- June Lum
Special fee for first time campers.
Discount available for campers registering before
December 15, 2015
248-543-5697 • www.woodenacres.com
50 December 3 2015
JN
Jared Skoff I Special to the Jewish News
0
ne of the central features of
Camp Ramah in Canada and
other Ramah camps nation-
wide is the Tikvah program. Designed
for Jews ages 12-21 with special needs,
the Tikvah program has been a trail-
blazer in Jewish camping, changing the
way that educators and professionals, as
well as families, approach inclusion and
experiential education.
It is no coincidence the program
is called Tikvah, "hope" in Hebrew. A
source of inspiration for campers and
staff of all backgrounds, Tikvah makes
the Ramah experience unique.
The Tikvah program is an integral
part of the Camp Ramah experience, not
only for participants, but also for typical
campers and staff Tikvah is its own edah
(group of campers) with its own sched-
ule, but is well-integrated into the camp
community and the other eidot.
While all campers have the oppor-
tunity to interact and engage with
Tikvah campers throughout the day, as
they would with other friends, Tikvah
also shares a unique connection with
Magshimim, the 15-year-old campers.
The two eidot share certain activities
such as morning prayers, a Shabbat
dance and song, performing a play
together in Hebrew and participating in
evening activities.
Each Magshimim camper is paired
with a Tikvah camper in a program
called zugot (pairs), which includes
spending an hour of free time together
on Shabbat afternoon. The campers
enjoy swimming, playing cards and
board games, reading books and playing
sports together.
The opportunity for typical campers
and campers with special needs to share
experiences and activities as a cohesive
group is beneficial and particularly
meaningful for both Magshimim and
Tikvah, as well as for the entire camp.
Campers in the oldest age group (16
years old) have the opportunity to con-
tinue their relationships with Tikvah by
becoming counselors-in-training (CITs).
In partnership with the counselors and
Rosh Edah (division head) of Tikvah,
CITs learn how to plan programs, par-
ticipate in the campers' activities and
develop skills as Jewish educators.
Paul Schmitz, former Ramah Canada
camper, was hand-selected to work as a
Tikvah CIT.
"When I was a Tikvah CIT this past
summer, the campers were the ones
who were educating me:' he said. "My
experience working with Tikvah has
inspired me to help people and make
people happy. These incredible kids gave
me a new perspective on finding fun in
everyday activities and taught me the
importance of a smile:'
For more than 45 years, the Ramah
Camping Movement has been offering
programs for campers with disabilities.
The Tikvah program was established in
1970, at a time when most Jewish camps
were not equipped to accommodate
campers with disabilities.
Ramah Director Donald Adelman
believed that Ramah has an obligation to
serve the Jewish community by offering
a positive and enriching camping experi-
ence to Jewish children of all abilities.
Rabbis and educators stress that
Jewish camping is in the business of
"making mentshes:' creating upstanding
Jewish young adults. Beyond the Jewish
value of inclusion, the natural integration
of Tikvah allows everyone at camp to
experience a close-knit community with
members of varying needs and abilities.
Without question, the gift of Tikvah is
in empowering special needs campers to
build community, but perhaps its great-
est impact has been its role in creating a
camp culture and a mindset of inclusiv-
ity and acceptance. *
Jared Skoff is a Ramah Detroit Fellow.