28 | JANUARY 18 • 2024 J
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M

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

