36 | FEBRUARY 2 • 2023 

OUR COMMUNITY

W

e first heard about 
Camp Tamarack’s 
Avodah program 
through an email from Sasha’s 
ninth-grade teacher last year. 
We were excit-
ed to learn that 
not only would 
Sasha get to be a 
camper, but she 
would also be a 
part of the staff in 
the mornings — 
with the Avodah 
(work) program. 
 Sasha loves to do “jobs,
” and 
we knew this would be right 
up her alley. The afternoons at 
camp she would be a camper 
and get to enjoy all the new 
fun activities. Developing life 
skills, job skills and social skills 
are all high on our list, and this 
checked off all the boxes. 
Sasha had never even spent 
a single night away from home 
before, so the decision to attend 
overnight camp for 24 days was 

a bit daunting. Sasha took the 
lead by insisting, “Mom, please, 
I’m ready and I want a break,
” 
so we signed up and went full 
speed ahead to the Zoom pre-
sentation, meetings 
with staff and then 
to the open house, 
even bringing her 
grandparents along 
for the experience. 
Sasha’s grand-
mother Ellen Must 
enjoyed the visit 
and memories of 
her own experi-
ence attending 
Tamarack as a little 
girl.
As the date 
approached, we had fun col-
lecting items on the packing 
list and packing her mono-
grammed duffle bags. As some 
anticipatory anxiety started to 
rise, we spoke a lot about ways 
to cope with being homesick 
and the letters we would write 

each other. Wise words from 
seasoned Tamarack counselor 
Ilyssa Brunhild to Sasha were 
very helpful; she advised Sasha 
that it’s OK to feel homesick and 
to allow herself to 
have fun — and that 
she could do both at 
the same time. 
There were a few 
small bumps along 
the way, but staff 
took amazing care 
of Sasha at camp 
and communicated 
with me often. She 
enjoyed working 
at DahBucks and 
cooking, and she 
even had a part in 
the camp musical. Overall, her 
experience was a 10/10 and now 
she cannot wait for the summer 
of 2023. 
She would like to attend the 
six-week Super Summer pro-
gram, but we are not quite ready 
for that just yet … However, it 

gives us a few specific goals to 
work on at home and, with the 
advice of Avodah supervisor 
Lainie Sacks, it’s something for 
Sasha to strive for. 
My little butterfly had an 
opportunity to spread her wings 
and returned more confident, 
proud of herself and her accom-
plishments, with stories of new 
friendships and fun experiences 
and, from this mom’s perspec-
tive, she was suddenly more 
grown up. I missed her hugs and 
kisses for 24 days but, in a way, it 
gave me a chance to grow, too.
Bravo to Camp Tamarack for 
implementing such a wonderful 
inclusive program. We as a fam-
ily are so grateful for the Avodah 
program that we have decided 
we wanted to find a way to give 
back and contribute to the camp 
scholarship program. We would 
like to spread the word to other 
families who might not yet 
know about Avodah and raise 
money to assist other families. 

Sasha Must’s amazing time in Camp Tamarack’s Avodah program. 
A Summer of Empowerment

Fundraising Event
Family Portrait Sessions with master portrait artist 
Marla Michele Must, Sasha’s mom, will be offered 
to support the Camp Tamarack Scholarship 
Endowment Fund. Her session fee of $275 is 
waived with a minimum $100 tax-deductible 
donation to the Camp Scholarship Fund (paid 
directly to Tamarack). A portion of the proceeds 
from the purchase of artwork (prints, images, 
albums, wall art) will be donated back to camp by 
the studio. 
Sessions can include up to 10 people — dogs 
welcome — and will be done outside in nature. 
Sessions are by appointment through April 
2023. To book, call Marla at (248) 910-0555. 
(www.enchantedbymarlamichele.com)
Sasha will continue her Avodah experience by 
assisting mom with the sessions. She will be avail-
able to talk to families about her experience as a 
new camper.

Sasha Must and 
Lainie Sacks

Marla 
Michele 
Must 
Special to the 
Jewish News

