What is MESSH Anyway? Camper Care at SAC…
By Ella Endres
Sephardic Adventure Camp is a Jewish sleep away camp unlike any other. Daily life at SAC blends the traditions of Rhodes and Turkish Jews and infuses them into activities from tefillah, to education, and to, well, adventures. Sephardic Adventure Campers have the opportunity, for three amazing weeks every summer, not only to embrace, but to live their culture, their heritage, and their history. Perhaps the most extraordinary aspect of SAC though, is the sense of family and home which, I believe, was created by the camp’s founders when they poured all of their love and effort into creating a magical space for their community’s children to immerse themselves in their history. This legacy lives on in the SAC alumni, parents, Seattle Sephardic community leaders, and scholars who pay SAC a visit to lead a Rhodesli activity or to teach a Turkish tune throughout the summer.
In some ways, though, Sephardic Adventure Camp is quite ordinary. Like any other sleep away camp, SAC is full of campers ranging from eight to fifteen years old all trying to navigate the social dynamics that come with 24/7 interaction and close quarters. On top of that, many campers struggle with missing home and family members. In the past, as with most summer camps, counselors were typically tasked with caring for a dozen of these campers and all of their social and emotional challenges. However, these counselors must also learn to collaborate and share responsibilities with co-counselors, cope with any challenges in their personal lives, all while trying to enjoy their time at camp with friends.
Given all of these natural challenges, factors, and responsibilities, everyone in camp needs an unconditional support system. Understanding that need, SAC has introduced the Camper Care Team to camp over the past two years with the support of the FJC (Foundation for Jewish Camp) with its Yedid Nefesh grant. The grant allows for 5 years of support in the MESSH (Mental, Emotional, Social, Spiritual, Health) aspects of camp and is a critical need that the FJC has generously supported across the Jewish camping world. SAC is in the 3rd cohort of this amazing program and this was the second year of our funding.
Led by Jennifer Owen, MSW, the Camper Care Team operates out of what we call the Sensory Tent. Inside the canvas walls of this tent, campers, counselors, and staff will find cozy couches decorated with bright pillows, weighted blankets, a tea station (complete with honey), books, journals and coloring books, twinkle lights, and a variety of sensory related materials. Jenn also offers one-on-one counseling, group/bonding sessions for small groups and entire bunks, and MESSH (Mental Emotional, Social, and Spiritual Health) for counselors and staff. When necessary, the Camper Care Team will communicate with parents/facilitate conversations between parents and their campers — both things that are less necessary than ever before because of the Camper Care Team. The Sensory Tent and its mission is an oasis; a place for everyone to momentarily step outside of the adventure, chaos, and excitement of daily life at camp.
This past summer the Camper Care Team expanded with me, Ella Endres, being hired on as Jenn’s assistant. As a member of this team, I found that our role eased a great deal of stress for other staff and helped make campers feel more comfortable and at home. From my experience and observation this summer, I could tell that the entire mission of the Camper Care Team was a natural outgrowth of SAC’s founders’ goal to create an immersive, fun, familial, cultural, and meaningful space for their community’s children. It is a gift and an honor to get to carry on that beautiful mission for the SAC family.
