by Tamara Stokes

Staff Writer

Summer camp conjures up memories of fun, friendships, and sometimes more than just friends when folks find someone who ends up being their life-long partner.

Maybe that's just part of the magic about camp with a mission as "a special kind of kehillah (community) where each of us can make a difference in the lives of others and ourselves."

Laura Seymour knows more about Camp Chai than just about anyone. She's been the camp director for 25 years. Seymour met her husband while working at the camp, and has witnessed all sorts of magical connections firsthand.

Camp Chai is certified by the American Camping Association (ACA). "It takes work to become accredited through this agency, and I wouldn't send my child to any camp that wasn't certified through them," says Seymour, who started the accreditation process soon after Camp Chai began to attain this level of competency at the camp.

Camp Chai is certified by the American Camping Association (ACA). "It takes work to become accredited through this agency, and I wouldn't send my child to any camp that wasn't certified through them," says Seymour, who started the accreditation process soon after Camp Chai began to attain this level of competency at the camp.

Seymour says many parents search on-line for summer camps, but it is important to know the philosophy of the camp and meet the people who run it before trusting them with your children.

"There's really something special that happens at camp that you can't experience in any other setting," says Seymour. A "real" camp experience has swimming, and field trips, and time by a lake, not just something with a sports or summer theme in a day or after-school care setting.

"And the singing," adds Seymour, "is a favorite time each day." Seymour published a camp songbook so parents and children can become familiar with the words of the songs by the time camp arrives. Seymour says parents know many of the songs, and the pre-learning part is a good bonding activity for parents and children.

"Children today are troubled. There are all kinds of family situations, health issues, medication issues, and the common denominator at camp is that you're accepted for who you are." In her experience as Taglit Preschool at the J director and as camp director, she is able to see how children who don't do well in a school social situation blossom and thrive in a camp situation. They are more successful socially at camp. The camp experience is extremely important in fostering self-esteem for both child and teen-aged counselors.

Although various "tribes" within camp compete on different levels, children are not asked to compete on an individual basis. When asked about helping children with special needs, Tara Ohayon, the coordinator for adults with special needs at the JCC, says that Camp Chai offers something for everyone. She says that sometimes the children who grow the most are those who help children with special needs feel comfortable and part of the camp team.

"Imagine a business where the financial success depends on one project. You have nine months to plan for it and at the end of that time, you hand it over to a group of teenagers to execute. That's exactly what we do as camp directors. Our counselors understand they are making a difference in the lives of children."

Julie Muchlin and her daughter, Ashley, 5-1/2, are looking forward to attending Camp Chai for the first time this summer. "She's coming of age and excited about attending camp," says Muchlin.

Seymour and Ohayon agree that, although the counselors have to pay for their own training, it is a precious investment in their future.

Ohayon says becoming a counselor is a much more responsible summer job than "flipping hamburgers," adding, "Connections happen in ways you can't imagine."

Ohayon believes, like Seymour, that all kinds of magic that can be found at Camp Chai: her brother and his fiancé fall into the camp-love scenario. "They're engaged to be married later this year," says Ohayon.