32 | FEBRUARY 2 • 2023 

O

ne of the core values that has 
guided Tamarack Camps since 
its inception over a century ago is 
the idea of Kehillah Mekabelet — to build a 
welcoming, inclusive community, to value 
and celebrate each person, that everyone is 
important. 
That value isn’t just a catchy tagline, it’s a 
year-round way of life, but most deeply evi-
dent during a classic Tamarack summer. 
Inclusivity can be seen all across 
Tamarack, but it’s possibly no more 
ingrained in the camp’s fiber than in its 
Avodah Young Adults Program.
Avodah (work) is a job coaching and 
recreation program for young adults enter-
ing ninth grade, extending into their 20s. 
Avodah provides instruction in job skills, 
life skills and offers social opportunities for 
those with learning, social and communica-
tion differences. 
Support for campers with special needs 
has been integrated into programs at 

Tamarack Camps since the early 1990s. The 
level of support has evolved over the years 
to the benefit of the entire camp community.
Camp Tamarack Director Carly 
Weinstock has seen it firsthand. “We have 
an amazing inclusion program 
for camp-aged participants 
with special needs, and what 
we realize is as soon as they 
age out of camp, there’s not 
much for them,
” she said. 
“This is an amazing opportu-
nity for adults to come back 
and get some life skills, work at camp and 
have this great camp experience that has 
been so important to them growing up.
”
Many of the Avodah participants did 
grow up going to camp, and Weinstock, 
who grew up at camp herself and has been 
working professionally at Tamarack since 
2007, has seen a number of Tamarack 
campers come back as successful Avodah 
participants. 

LIFE AT CAMP
As a group, Avodah participants live in 
their own village with two cabins and a 
lodge with laundry facilities and a full 
kitchen. Avodah participants can register 
for full (24 days) or mini (10 days) ses-
sions. 
Participants spend their mornings work-
ing in specialty areas with the 
support of a job coach, where 
they’re learning job skills, life 
skills and social skills within 
and around camp.
“It’s a transition program,
” 
said Lainie Sacks, inclusion 
specialist and Avodah super-
visor. “
A lot of them will be going into an 
adult transition program after they gradu-
ate high school. So similar things that will 
help them in the job force.
” 
In the afternoon, they enjoy camp activ-
ities like the rest of the campers.
“They get to enjoy camp like they 
remember it, where again, they’re practic-
ing their social skills, being with same-age 
peers and whatnot,
” Sacks said. “They get a 
little bit of both worlds.
” 
Avodah participants are fully integrated 
into all of the camp programs, including 
everything from Color War (a team-build-
ing game) to the all-camp play. The partic-
ipants’ individual abilities often drive some 
of what they do at camp, so the camp staff 
can tailor their jobs around their strengths. 
Avodah participants have jobs all 
around camp, including on the farm, in the 
clinic, on the beach, and in the dance and 
art programs. Some partici-
pants have also helped set up 
special events such as Israel 
Day, Circus Day or Color 
War — putting up signs and 
readying stations.
“
And we’re not just mak-
ing things up so they have a 
job to do,
” said Danielle Tagai, director of 
Mental Health and Special Needs. “These 
are jobs that need to be done around camp. 
We’re really teaching them how to be part 
of our camp community.
” 
If an Avodah participant shows interest 
in an area not yet explored, staff will work 
with the supervisors in those areas to find 
some sort of job in that area. 
In addition to working various jobs 
around camp, Avodah participants also help 
run a coffee shop a few days a week known 

Tamarack Camps’ penchant for inclusivity 
shines with the Avodah Young Adults Program.

A Camp for 
Everyone

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

Carly 
Weinstock

Danielle 
Tagai

Lainie 
Sacks

CAMP GUIDE
ON THE COVER

 Maxx 
Silberschein

