On July 31 in White Lake in the Catskill Mountains, friends and alumni of Camp Chaverim braved the rainy weather to get together for the first ‘alumni-funday’ event and reunion since the camp’s inception more than 25 years ago.

The event was graciously sponsored by PEYD and there were more than 150 staff members at the beautiful event with their families in tow, many of whom traveled from near and far to be part of the ceremonies.

Camp Chaverim, a division of Yachad, operating on the grounds of Camp Mogen Avraham, is one of the most renowned summer camps for the special needs community. Under the direction and leadership of Rabbi’s Yosi Wadler and Reuven Kamin, Chaverim provides families of children with special needs much needed respite while they provide their children with a wonderful summer. Throughout the summer, these children are given opportunities to enhance their life skills as they enjoy and relax in the beautiful mountains.

The event was organized by the ‘Friends of Chaverim’ committee, the newly formed alumni organization of Camp Chaverim. This organization was created after the successful launch of the organization and fundraising campaign last March whereby alumni of Camp Chaverim got together and raised money for parents who wished to send their children to the camp but did not have the means to do so.

‘Friends of Chaverim’ was launched so that former Chaverim staff could have an opportunity to reconnect, reminisce and join together to support the individuals who so greatly impacted their lives. “We are incredibly grateful to all the families who braved the weather to attend the event and for the generous support of those in attendance to launch the Shlomo Rindenow Scholarship Fund, L’Zecher Nishmas. Shlomo, a former Chaverim counselor and Israeli soldier who was niftar tragically very recently while serving in the IDF,” said Eli Schreiber, executive director of the ‘Friends of Chaverim’ committee.

“Shlomo considered the time he spent in Camp Chaverim as an instrumental life experience that he had, so much so, that he included his time spent at Camp Chaverim on his application to the Israeli Army. Shlomo’s thoughts and words mirror many of the same feelings our alumni had, of their time here in camp doing just as much for them as it does for the children with special needs who we are privileged to spend time with here in camp,” said Reuven Kamin, co-director of Camp Chaverim.

The focus of the ‘Friends of Chaverim’ committee will be to generate funds for scholarships, projects, enhancements and advancements, and to support the efforts of Yachad in the vital role they play in helping the camp stay operational and continue its vital missions and support services for the special needs community.

We are incredibly grateful and thankful to Yachad for all the support they provide our camp and for everything they do for our campers. Dr. Jeffrey Lichtman and his staff have been incredibly supportive of our campers and program since we partnered several years ago. We look forward to continued growth of ‘Chaverim-B’Yachad’ for years to come,” said Rabbi Yosi Wadler, co-director and founder of Camp Chaverim.

For more information about Camp Chaverim and the ‘Friends of Chaverim’ committee, please email [email protected].