Unplugging, Rewiring and Reclaiming the Freedom of Childhood

As we celebrate the 5th anniversary of Tamarack Times, I keep coming back to one of the most meaningful gifts we offer children at camp… the chance to unplug. Many parents feel caught in a world that, as Jonathan Haidt describes in The Anxious Generation, has shifted from a play-based childhood to a phone-based childhood with astonishing speed. Devices are … Read more

SK2T: Help send kids to camp with a matched gift by March 5

For 125 summers, Tamarack Camps has helped shape generations of children — building confidence, deepening Jewish identity, fostering lifelong friendships and creating a network that extends across the globe. As we celebrate this milestone year, we’re honoring a legacy more than a century strong. But we’re also looking ahead — because access to a Tamarack … Read more

Confidence, community and carabiners: A new ‘adventure’ is coming to Tamarack!

Even as the seasons change, the momentum at Tamarack Camps never slows. With great excitement and heartfelt gratitude, we are thrilled to share news that will “elevate” the Tamarack experience for years to come! Thanks to the generosity of alumnus Rick Bloom, Tamarack Camps is proud to announce the creation of The Lucker Family Adventure … Read more

make your mitzvah project a Slam Dunk!

Join us for Mitzvah Madness: Thursday, March 5, 20266:30–8 p.m. Jewish Federation of Detroit 6735 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills Preparing for a B’nai Mitzvah can be a huge undertaking for parents and kids. In addition to studying and planning, teens must also choose a mitzvah project, a chance to put the Jewish tradition of tzedakah into action — which … Read more

TAMARACK AND FLORIDA: A WINNING MATCH

From Lee… In New York, last September, while visiting our daughter, Jamie, Robin and I saw Stephanie and Josh Freedman (friends from Detroit who moved to Boca Raton) at breakfast. During our time together, we learned that they were working to open a new store — MatchSet — specializing in racquet sports and leisure apparel. … Read more

Honoring the Legacy of Jeff Grey

“Jeff’s Circle” honors the memory of our son and brother, Jeffrey Grey, who died tragically during a storm in Algonquin Provincial Park while serving as the director of Tamarack’s Camp Kennedy. Nearly 20 years ago, The Jeff Grey Campfire Circle was created so that all who gather there could find peace, joy, connection, and healing through nature and music.  Over … Read more

‘For our family, that means everything’

How Tamarack Helped Jack Shine I grew up at Jewish summer camp, where some of the most formative moments of my childhood — the friendships, the freedom, the sense of Jewish joy — happened. Camp shaped who I am, and when I became a parent, I hoped my children would one day feel that same … Read more

A Hanukkah Message from our Chief Medical Officer

This past week has been heavy. Especially during Hanukkah, it can feel painful and unsettling to be Jewish in the world. The frightening events in the news may be confusing, distressing, or overwhelming for adults and children alike, and many families are wondering how best to support their children while managing their own emotions. As … Read more

Back home, Together

Earlier this month — with duffle bags — our year-round staff, as a full group, returned to Camp Maas. We reconnected at “The Greatest Place on Earth!” for an overnight retreat — and, during a packed 24 hours, our resident address shifted back to Ortonville. Like campers and staff, with comfortable accommodations — including the … Read more