Camp 
In-A-Box

Bringing the fun of 
summer home.

SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN 
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Jews in the D

I

n the conventional, once-upon-a-time 
sense, 9-year-old Issabella Chappell and 
her 5-year-old sister, Rosie, did not go to 
camp this summer. But after their parents 
found an innovative stay-at-home, alterna-
tive-world substitution, they actually did. 
“We were originally going to sign them 
up for a local day camp,
” said their mom, 
Amanda. “But this year the circumstances 
changed because of COVID-19, and we 
were concerned about how our kids would 
follow the safety rules. There is a lot to 
think about and sanitizing is tough when 
they are out having fun all day. We needed 
them in a controlled environment.
”
In a search for a way to provide the 
girls with a constructive and fun sum-
mer, Amanda and her husband, Chad, 
came across a Facebook post for what she 
described as “an amazing lifesaver” called 
Camp In-A-Box.
They purchased two of the 12-by-10-by-
8-inch cartons, each filled with 20 activities 
highlighting camp pastimes including 
outdoor fun, arts and crafts, drama, quiet 
time and snack suggestions for one child 
between the ages of 4 and 10 with coun-
selor support. All are touted as “back to 
basics” and technology-free. 
The Chappells, who live in Clarkston, 
turned the cardboard container’
s con-
tents — including directions and materi-
als —into their own two-camper summer 
program, acting as counselors for the girls’
 
daily creative play. 

BLENDING TALENTS
Camp In-A-Box is the creation of sisters 
Laurie Keil Leeb, a parent educator and 
early childhood specialist who is currently a 
home consultant for the PLAY Project, and 
Debbie Keil Landau, a teacher and semi-re-
tired overnight and day camp professional 
who was a director and associate director 
for Tamarack Camps. 

“I’
m always thinking camp in the summer 
months,
” said Landau, who lives in West 
Bloomfield. “With the possibility of all 
camps being canceled, I thought, ‘
Why not 
bring camp to children at home in a bag or 
a box or in some packaged way and give 

6-year-old Eliana Triest and her brother Aryeh, 9, show their excitement at receiving their Camp In-A-Box.

For information
or to purchase Camp In-A-Box, getaboxnow.com or send an email to 
2sistersboxitup@gmail.com. Cost: $45, Boxes ordered out of delivery area can be picked up 
in Orchard Lake or shipped at a cost.