A nutrition and wellness focus makes Camp Zeke a unique overnight camp option in the Mid-Atlantic
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. 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.
