28 | JANUARY 18 • 2024 J
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ilo Rothberger of Bloomfield
Hills, a 12-year-old Tamarack
camper, has created a fund-
raiser for his bar mitzvah project called
“Kids Send Kids to Camp.” Milo rented
out a theater at the Birmingham 8 for a
screening of the 1994 film Camp Nowhere
on Sunday, Jan. 28. All ticket sales and
donations will directly support camper
scholarships. The fundraiser was launched
on Dec. 17, and Milo has raised more
than $7,000 so far.
Milo’s parents, Lisa and Jared
Rothberger, sent him to camp this past
summer with the task of figuring out what
he wanted to do for his bar mitzvah proj-
ect. Milo’s bar mitzvah is in April.
Sitting in his bunk and looking around
at his campmates, Milo realized he didn’t
really know who was able to pay for

camp themselves or who had scholar-
ships through Tamarack’s “Send A Kid To
Tamarack” annual campaign, which helps
close the gap for campers requiring addi-
tional financial support and helps wel-
come every camper to Tamarack summer
after summer.
At Tamarack, every camper is on an
equal playing field. Nobody’s treated any
differently, whether they receive addi-
tional financial support or not. But Milo
realized there was a way he could directly
help the campers in need of that support.
Being a kid and helping send other kids
to camp was an idea that truly spoke to
Milo. “Send A Kid To Tamarack” fund-
raising events are normally reserved for
adults, and Milo thought an event for kids
would be a welcome change.
Milo says it feels good to be fundraising

for kids who might not otherwise be able
to have the Tamarack experience.
“I don’t know who it’s going to, but I
know I’m helping someone get the same
experience I’m getting at camp, which is a
home away from home,” said Milo, who’s
been attending Tamarack for six years.
While Lisa and Jared had a little bit of
influence, the fundraiser is Milo’s brain-
child.
“I think he learned a lot about what
scholarships are available, how many kids
actually get scholarships and get camp
subsidized, and how great the need is,”
Jared said. “He’s done a great job with it.”
Lori Davidson-Mertz, director of annu-
al giving at Tamarack Camps, says Milo
worked really hard to make this happen.

OUR COMMUNITY

A 12-year-old Tamarack camper’s bar mitzvah
project will help send kids to camp.

Kids Send Kids to

DANNY SCHWARTZ SENIOR STAFF REPORTER

Tamarack

Milo, right, with camp
friends Josh Moutsatsos,
Charlie Feldman,
Ari Young, Zach Keller and,
Jonah Tigay

“I DON’T KNOW WHO
IT’S GOING TO, BUT
I KNOW I’M HELPING
SOMEONE GET THE
SAME EXPERIENCE I’M
GETTING AT CAMP,
WHICH IS A HOME

AWAY FROM HOME.”

— MILO ROTHBERGER