ZIP-ping to the right summer experience

My heart sings when I know I am heading to the 53066 ZIP code–my summer camp home away from home. In fact, I spent a dozen summers at Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute (OSRUI) in Oconomowoc, Wis.

OSRUI was, and still is, my happy place. I first went to summer camp in the third grade, and never looked back. Every October, I would run to the mailbox daily to look for the registration brochure for camp, which was my ticket back to 53066.

Growing up in a small-but-mighty Jewish community in Michigan City, Ind. to Brooklyn-born parents, I was able to root myself in my Jewish traditions at OSRUI.

Camp was about friendships, fun, and maybe even kissing a boy. As an adult, I realize that camp solidified my Jewish values through Hebrew learning, Jewish studies, Shabbat song sessions, and values of respect and kindness. At camp, I built friendships that have lasted a lifetime.

When I had my daughter, Lylah, in 2010, I could not wait for her to experience OSRUI. She first visited 53066 when she was only two years old, for a family camp weekend with my former camp friends. Watching my camp friends’ kids interacting with Lylah was a true Shehechiyanu moment.

When Lylah was in third grade, she spent her first five days without me, at camp. She had an amazing time and continued to go to OSRUI for the next five summers. However, Lylah then decided to add her own camp zip code: 03033.

Every summer, we would spend time with close family friends in New Hampshire. For the second half of Lylah ‘s third-grade summer, our friends’ older daughters planned to be at their nearby Jewish summer camp–Camp Tevya in Brookline, New Hampshire. Lylah begged to go, and I couldn’t say “no” to another Jewish summer camp.

So, it began: Lylah would attend two Jewish summer camps for the next five summers. Not long after, her little brother, Oren, joined her at both camps. However, summer 2023 was the last summer that the kids went to both camps. Their full hearts were at Camp Tevya… in 03033.

What was most important to me was sending my kids to Jewish summer camp, even if it was not my camp. Jewish summer camp enhances their Jewish values, as they interact with other young people from different cities and states. And it teaches them life skills: friendship, social skills, appreciation of nature, and resilience to navigate challenges away from home. They gain a sense of responsibility, and of Jewish community.

Just as my heart sings when it is in the 53066 ZIP code at OSRUI, my heart sings when my kids are in 03033 at Camp Tevya. I believe there is a camp out there for all kids, and I encourage you to help your kids find theirs. It will change their lives.

Maryn Robinson is a food scientist from Chicago with over 20 years of experience in innovation commercialization within the CPG industry. She enjoys spending her free time embracing nature on the streets and lakefront of Chicago with her husband, two kids, and two dogs.