36 Years, 3 Siblings, 1 Camp
Written by Haley Lerner
My siblings, Deb and Sam, and I have been ALL IN on Camp Interlaken from the very beginning, each of us experiencing the full camp journey – from camper to counselor, song leader to ad staff or technical staff. While we may have been the first Carneols at camp, we certainly weren’t the last. We inspired our younger cousins to follow in our footsteps as CIL campers, song leaders, and staff, proudly carrying on the Carneol family legacy. Together, we spent a combined 36 years at camp – double chai!
Even after we “graduated” from camp, we stayed closely connected. Anytime the three of us are together, Sam keeps the energy high and the laughs constant, often grabbing his guitar as we belt out camp favorites – just like we did in our song-leading days. No matter how much time passes, the song leaders in us always find their way back out.
During the years Deb worked full-time at the JCC in Milwaukee, she often returned to camp during the summers, always ready to jump in and help wherever needed. For me, making time to return to camp has always been a priority – even celebrating my bachelorette party in the Northwoods with a memorable stop at camp for a dip in the Finley. Now, with young children of our own, Deb and I are already talking about when to bring our families to Family Camp.
While my parents, Allan and Sue, aren’t CIL alumni themselves, they are lifelong camp people and some of Camp Interlaken’s biggest fans. As devoted camper parents, they experienced camp’s magic through our bunk notes, stories, and photos. By 2004, with all three of us fully immersed in camp life, my mom had “drunk the bug juice” and joined the Camp Committee, where she served actively until 2008. Their first visit to camp during Committee Weekend in 2004 sealed the deal, sparking an annual tradition of returning to the Northwoods each summer for a cabin weekend while we were on staff.
As active members of the Milwaukee Jewish community, my parents deeply understand the profound impact of Jewish camping on a child’s development. They remain committed to ensuring its vitality for future generations, hoping camp will continue playing a transformative role in the lives of their grandchildren.
I feel incredibly lucky and grateful that my family was chosen as one of the Chair Families for Camp Interlaken’s 60th Anniversary Celebration this June. Some of my best memories have been “creating the magic” behind the scenes for campers, and it’s an honor to do that for the entire CIL community as we come together to celebrate and relive the camp experience.
What makes this even more special is that I get to share it with my own family. While all five of us had our own unique journeys at camp, this is a rare and meaningful opportunity to work together as adults on something that has shaped us all. And now, as my own children step into the world of Camp Interlaken for the first time, I love knowing they will finally get to experience the magic for themselves.
On behalf of the entire Carneol/Fendrich/Lerner family, we can’t wait to see everyone at the celebration weekend and make this an unforgettable event for the entire CIL family.