By Jessica Davis, JTNews Correspondent
Now in its 48th year, Olympia’s Camp Solomon Schechter is embracing its traditions while making some changes.
Over the past five years, new cabins, a lake front beach and a village for the junior counselor program have been added to the camp. This summer, two log structures will house four new cabins, plus campers will have more activities to choose from, such as fishing, pottery, guitar, kayaking and an improved arts and crafts program.
New director Jodi Sperling was recently hired to replace Hillary Buff, the camp’s first full-time, year-round director. Buff left the position after being at the camp for five years.
Sperling served as the oded (counselor-in-training) director in 2001, and was the summer director in 2002. Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., she also has experience working with Jewish youth, from coordinating a camp for poor children in New York to directing a Hebrew language day camp in Portland, Ore. She received her Master’s in Social Work and Jewish Communal Service from the University of Michigan and also served as assistant editor of Moment magazine.
Sperling said she’s excited about the changes this summer. “It doesn’t hurt that I have a great camp to build on. It’s rare that you see a camp with such a dedicated board,” she said.
What won’t change is the vision of the camp founders Rabbi Stampfer and his wife Goldie: a place for campers to explore their Jewish identities and experience what it is like to live in a Jewish community, said Sperling.
The Jewish community is what drew Sperling to the camp.
“It’s such a dedicated, giving community,” said Sperling. “It’s a very special place for a lot of people.”
“The rabbis have been very helpful in getting me acquainted with the Jewish community of Seattle,” she added.
In addition to Sperling, the camp recently hired business director Sol Lipman, who came from Camp JCA Shalom in Malibu, Calif. and administrator David May. May spent the past five years as the administrator of camps Swig and Newman in San Francisco.
The conservative Jewish camp expects more than 750 campers to attend this summer, most of whom come from the Seattle area. Though there is one counselor for every five campers, at least one counselor for every cabin will have finished a minimum of one year of college. Campers can also expect to see “Rabbi Matt” Ellas, a rabbinical student and Schechter alumni again this summer.
As a result, there will be more emphasis on education and skills to build self-confidence. Conservative rabbis will enhance the camp’s Jewish education program. The arts program at the camp will also expand this summer to include a song leader, and Israeli folk dancing will be offered every session, as well as art shows. Some Schechter traditions that have slipped away will come back, like the camp’s theme song.
“Kids will leave knowing how to do something that they didn’t know before they came,” Sperling said.
The camp is currently in the process of developing an alumni network, redoing its Web site, expanding its year-round program and working with synagogues and Jewish day schools to plan retreats.
To register and for more information, call 206-447-1967 or visit www.campschechter.org.