While many summer camps offer a variety of ways for kids to stay active and healthy, one overnight camp in the Mid-Atlantic region takes it one step further.
Camp Zeke draws campers from across the world with its unique theme—a health-
focused lifestyle.
For families worried about sugary snacks and camp diets—or those whose children have a special interest in the gourmet—Camp Zeke is an appealing option.
Located in Lakewood, Pennsylvania, the camp draws local campers as well as those from Washington D.C., Fairfax, Virginia, Baltimore, Maryland, Florida and even Israel.
The camp’s founders, Lisa and Isaac Mamaysky, hatched the idea for Camp Zeke in 2010 and made it a reality in 2012. They envisioned a camp that reflected their love of the Jewish community and their own values of cooking healthy foods, being active and staying fit.
“We’re a new camp with an old soul,” says Katie Thurson, assistant director at Camp Zeke.
The elective-based camp has campers in second to twelfth grades choose a specialty, from activities on the water, in the theater, on the field or in a gourmet kitchen, and offers a variety of team sports, as well as horseback riding, Zumba, climbing and martial arts.
But the most unique part of Camp Zeke is the focus on healthy eating in a positive way. At the end of camp, kids take home healthy habits, new favorite foods and the confidence to try new things.
One way Camp Zeke supports this is by providing kids a cookbook with 20 to 25 recipes they learned and tried at camp. In past years, the cookbook has held such highlights as vegetable sushi, gluten-free challah, fried rice and portobello mushroom tacos.
While food is a highlight for every camper, for some, it’s a lifeline. The culinary team at Camp Zeke prides itself on being able to handle any food allergen. The camp’s culinary program is “top nine friendly,” which means staff don’t cook with the nine leading causes of food allergies identified in the United States. The “top nine” includes foods like shellfish, tree nuts and peanuts. But Camp Zeke is also ready to meet the needs of kids who have uncommon allergies or dietary needs.
“We have a dedicated allergen kitchen and allergy chef to prepare all their food so we can make sure that anybody can eat,” Thurson says.
Last year, Thurson spoke with a camper who she says was dealing with anxiety from his prior experiences with buffets.
“He had never been in a place where he could just eat at the buffet,” Thurson explains. “He didn’t go out to eat. He didn’t go to restaurants. His parents always prepared every single thing for him because he has such a bad anaphylactic reaction to tree nuts that it wasn’t safe for him to go anywhere else.”
Beyond healthy eating, Camp Zeke also focuses on mental, emotional, social and
spiritual health.
All camp staff participate in continuous training with a Jewish counseling service based in Colorado. This training includes full-day workshops on mental health crisis and what it means to be well.
Riva Schanker, director of camper and staff care, holds degrees in child education, psychology and child development. She is also certified in mental health first aid and has worked closely with educators on social and emotional learning within the Baltimore public school system.
Additionally, Camp Zeke retains a mental health intern who is in the process of attaining a master’s degree in social work.
One way Camp Zeke supports mental wellness is through its sensory room, where kids who are feeling overstimulated can take their time, rest and speak with the intern or another staff member.
“The goal is always to reintegrate them with their group, but we really try and make sure that every camper gets supported,” Thurson says.
And kids are responding to that support, with past campers already becoming staff members, though the camp has only been open a little over a decade, so they can provide the same experience they had to new campers.
“We have so many new kids every year because, in a lot of ways, this is just about celebrating healthy active living,” Thurson says.
Educator from Baltimore Supports Camper Care
Riva Schanker, who lived in Baltimore for six years and worked with Baltimore County Public Schools, is now the director of camper care at Camp Zeke.
Schanker has been a member of Camp Zeke’s staff team since 2016, having spent two decades working in the field of Jewish overnight camps. She also has three daughters who have all been Camp Zeke staff members.
As director of camper care, Schanker oversees the welfare of all the campers, making sure that they are in a safe environment, have all their needs met and have access to the activities they enjoy. She and her team help them foster new relationships. Schanker has degrees in early childhood education and psychology, and in child development.
“We make sure that the new campers are coming in smoothly and help pair them with other campers who are returners—teaching them the lay of the land,” Schanker says.
Her team works with families to make sure campers get their needs met—whether that’s by helping them meet a new friend, showing them the sensory room or just listening.
“They want to make lifetime friendships, and it’s not just for the campers; it’s for the staff as well,” Schanker says. “It starts at the top and, to me, Camp Zeke has given me the opportunity of a lifetime dream [I’ve had] for many years—to be at camp full time.”
