Camp Laurelwood hosts Israeli children affected by terror
July 21, 2005 by Howard Blas
MADISON — When Ruth Ann Ornstein received an email from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) last year, she knew Camp Laurelwood had an important job to do.
Ornstein, executive director of Camp Laurelwood, and other camp directors around the country were asked to apply to be the host camp for Israeli bar and bat mitzvah age children who had one or both parents killed in a terrorist attack.
“I hocked the IDF and said, We are the camp you want!” recounts Ornstein. “We told them to send all 40 kids to Camp Laurelwood.”
Camp Laurelwood is a Jewish coed residential camp for children ages
7-15 located in Madison.
Board president Scott Cooper and the Laurelwood board recognized the potential benefits for both the Israelis and the American campers.
“It is an opportunity for kids to understand the hardships faced by other kids, it provides a chance for our children to interact with Israeli kids, and we all gain an appreciation of the security we have in the U.S.-we shouldn’t take it for granted,” said Cooper.
Board member Jeff Arons observed, “It is the most positive, wonderful experience not just for the Israelis, but for the American campers as well.”
But the program has not been all smooth sailing.
“In the beginning, it was a little rough,” noted Ornstein. “We thought we could mainstream all of them, but it was difficult because of their poor English and other social issues.” Some of the children lost one or both parents as recently as four or five weeks before last year’s camp session.
“Some of the children arrived with high heels and a ton of
luggage-they didn’t really understand where they were going,” reported Ornstein. “We brought in an Army major to help us work with the group. Two children who were not appropriate for the group were sent home.”
But Ornstein has many fond memories from the first summer.
“All of the Israeli children gave presents to our children. Some of our campers received IDF t-shirts, signed by the Israelis. Also, the whole camp participated in a drumming
circle-200 people in a circle.”
Now, Ornstein, the Laurelwood community and the IDF are excited as they prepare to serve as hosts for a second year.
“This year, we have made some modifications to the
program-the Israelis will live in their own bunks, they will all have some English language skills, and everyone has to sign off on a behavior code,” said Ornstein.
The program is partially supported by the generosity of American bar and bat
mitzvah-age students who choose to donate bar and bat mitzvah money to send Israeli children to Camp Laurelwood. (For details on how to support this program, visit www.israelsoldiers.org/bar_mitzvah.cfm).
A fundraising event will be held on Sunday, Aug. 7, entitled “Seeds of Peace.” The “Garden of Peace” will be dedicated. For more information, visit
http://www.camplaurelwood.org or call the camp at (203) 421-3736.