Summer Memories

Older adults recall their childhoods
during Jewish Senior Life camp outing.

A

day spent canoeing, feeding
horses, playing bingo in the shade
of trees and culminating in a
campfire sing-a-long with s’mores is, by all
accounts, a perfect day at summer camp.
For a group of 139 older adults from Jewish
Senior Life, it was extra special as they left
their residences and immersed in nature at
Butzel Retreat Center in Ortonville.
“Taking our older adults to a camp expe-
rience is one of our most special programs
of the year,” says Carol Rosenberg, director,
JSL Foundation. “Our programming coor-
dinator, Mary Blowers, is devoted to creat-
ing an itinerary that engages and delights
our residents in nature and in community.”
At 101 years old, Rachel Fox was the
oldest camper at Butzel this year. Born in
Montreal but raised in Minnesota, where
lakes and secluded woods were just beyond
her doorstep, Fox says the days spent at
camp reminded her of her childhood. This
year marked her fifth time attending camp
with JSL; she looks forward to it all year.
When asked what her favorite part of

camp is, she says, “Absolutely, feeding
apples to the horses. They are so beautiful
and gentle. I also won at bingo today, so
that wasn’t too bad either.”
Ann Katkowsky, 92, and a longtime
Southfield resident, grew up in Toronto and
fondly remembers summers when she and
her seven siblings attended summer camp.
“Back then, there was no air condi-
tioning, so getting to spend your days
swimming in the lake was a real treat,”
Katkowsky says.
A recent study by the University of
Minnesota revealed that being in nature
is especially beneficial for healthy aging.
The study found that older adults who are
exposed to nature are more motivated to
be active physically, socially and spiritually,
offsetting chronic illness and the disabling
effects of isolation.

*

With offices in Oak Park and West Bloomfield, JSL con-
nects people with services through one number: (248)
661-1836. Learn more at www.jslmi.org.

Rachel Fox enjoys
feeding the horses.

Natalya Babenko,
Mary Blowers and
Ella Kucherenko

2110860

August 18 • 2016

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