NOVEMBER 17 • 2022 | 21

F

or 120 years, Tamarack 
Camps has advanced 
its mission of building 
a vibrant community through 
enriching Jewish camping expe-
riences for children and fami-
lies. This requires ensuring the 
health and safety of its campers 
and staff, which would not 
be possible without a talented 
medical team. Thanks to their 
dedication, Tamarack continues 
to offer comprehensive care to 
hundreds of children and teens 
each summer — managing 
allergies to accidents and every-
thing in between.
“We are privileged to staff our 
clinic with outstanding medical 
professionals from our commu-
nity and from all over the coun-
try, who provide care to our 
campers and staff while camp is 
in session,
” says Dr. Mike Feld, 
who co-chairs the Tamarack 
Camps medical committee 
alongside Erin Simmerman. 
“The clinic plays an import-
ant role in the overall success of 
camp, ensuring a healthy and 
safe environment for our home 
away from home.
”
As the number of campers 
continues to grow, compounded 
by the health complexities of 
children and teens today, the 
need for highly qualified medi-
cal professionals is increasing. 

And, just as happy coun-
selors are critical for happy 
campers, happy clinic staff leads 
to a happy and healthy camp 
environment. While the robust 
Wally P
. Straus Medical Clinic 
meets the highest standards of 
care, the clinic staff housing 
facility (where the camp doc-
tors and nurses reside at camp) 
needs renovation and improve-
ment. 
“In order to continue to 
attract and retain incredible 
medical providers, we hope to 
improve and create a comfort-
able living space for those who 
spend a week or more with us 
throughout the summer,
” Erin 
Simmerman adds.
Plans call for reconfiguring 
the building’s existing space, 
upgrading each suite with an 
individual bathroom and com-
fortable furniture, and adding 
a communal screened-in porch 
for rejuvenation and team 
bonding. The total renovation 
cost is approximately $425,000 
and Tamarack has secured a 
challenge grant of up to $95,000 
to support these clinic staff 
housing enhancements.
All gifts and pledges received 
or recorded by the end of 
November will be matched (1:2) 
and naming opportunities are 
available. Every gift matters and 

together, our community can 
make a difference for the next 
generation of clinic team mem-
bers and the campers for whom 
they provide care. 

Submitted by Tamarack Camps. To learn 

more, contact Ashleigh Imerman at aim-

erman@tamarackcamps.com or (248) 

974-9900. To make a gift online, visit 

www.tamarackcamps.com/giving/online. 

Help meet the match to spruce 
up living quarters for the medical 
community at Tamarack Camps.

Improving 
Life for Camp 
Tamaracks’ 
Medical Team
Erin Simmerman,
Jen Feinberg and
Dr. Michael Feld at the
Wally P. Straus Medical Clinic

Several of the medical team members who 
provide compassionate and comprehensive 
care each summer at Tamarack Camps

A camper visits the Wally P. Straus 
Medical Clinic for a health screening 
with a medical professional.

