For some members of the Baltimore Jewish community, their Jewish camp experiences shaped their identities so profoundly that they came back to camp as adults to light the way for the next generation.
Scott Black, Marji Arnheim, Josh Singer and Ally Feldman all went from camper to counselor and beyond.
Today, Black works as the director of operations for Camps Airy & Louise, a role he’s been in for more than two years now — but he’s been at camp for much longer.
Black began attending Camp Airy when he was 9 years old, and almost 30 years later, he goes back every year.
According to Black, camp was a critical component of developing his Jewish identity.
“I really didn’t have a positive Hebrew school experience growing up, so camp was the place where I mostly identified as being Jewish,” Black said. “There are a lot of campers there from all different backgrounds, so it didn’t matter how much knowledge you had or whether you came from an interfaith household or not.”
For some, it’s the spiritual aspect of camp that makes the difference. Arnheim, who now works as a photographer for Camps Airy & Louise, said that the way Shabbat services were presented was important because they were designed to be understood no matter what level of Jewish education campers had.
The setting of the camp was also important to her spiritual growth, according to Arnheim.
“It’s just a very comfortable way to pray … the spiritualness and the being outside and amongst nature, which is really where I feel like the word of God is,” Arnheim said.
Arnheim, who is now 53, attended camp starting at the age of 5 or 6. She also sent her two sons, now ages 23 and 26, to camp.
“It’s amazing to be a part of the Jewish camp [experience],” Arnheim said. “It’s not as rigorous as Hebrew school or day school, and to get to live with people and be Jewish together, it’s so powerful and gives you a feeling of such pride.”
For some, camp not only brings people closer to their own Jewish experience, but also closer to Israel.
“To this day I remember learning about Israel and Hebrew and learning Jewish songs and singing them with my friends here during our Shabbat,” Singer said.
For Singer, camp broadened his horizons.
“They had a map of Israel spread out all across the floor, and we had Israelis for the summers teach us each week, and this week was all about Israel and the different parts of the map, and it was the first time that I really thought about how people are from different places,” Singer said.
Singer first experienced camp at 5 years old, the first time he went to Beth Tfiloh Camps. Now, he’s back at camp as a unit head.
“I just always remembered having a really great experience growing up, and [that’s] thanks to my counselors and my unit heads,” Singer said.
Singer said he returned because he wants to help the next generation of campers have as much fun as he did.
“I love helping them grow and learn — my favorite thing is when a kid learns to tie his shoes — that’s a big deal!” Singer said.
Feldman first attended J Camps at 5 years old and hasn’t had a summer without camp since. As the assistant director for J Camps, she oversees parent engagement, special events, field trips and some year-round programming at the JCC of Greater Baltimore.
“If I had never gone to camp, my life would probably be completely different because I wouldn’t be working at the JCC. It’s just a different world,” Feldman said.
