The Broms Family: Camp TEKO
Written on the rafters and walls of the Arrow Cabin at Camp TEKO are hundreds of signatures. This graffiti is visible evidence of the campers who, over the past 53 years, have spent summers here learning to swim, singing Hebrew songs, deepening their Jewish identity, and forging friendships.
Cathy and Richard Broms are among the many who share their camp experience with their children and grandchildren—their family has spent a total of 30 summers at TEKO. Richard particularly remembers the summer of 1965, the first summer that TEKO moved to Lake Minnetonka from Lake Nokomis where it had been since 1945. “We were called gnomes because we weren’t old enough to be counselors,“ said Richard. “We had so much fun that summer refurbishing the camp.
The social side of these summers has created an everlasting link for many past and present TEKO campers. “Being in the community and having lifelong friends from those experiences is really important to all of us,” said Richard. Cathy (née Moscoe) was among his many friends at TEKO. “Through our summers at TEKO, we formed lifelong friendships. To this day, when we see each other, we reminisce about all the good times we had together,” said Cathy.
Richard and Cathy’s daughter Jorie Malk agrees. “Camp gave me a sense of community. Most of my school friends were not Jewish, so it was a chance to meet other Jewish youth. The relationships that you build at camp are really strong—many of my best friends today were fellow campers.”
Jorie is one of many TEKO campers who went on to become a counselor. Today, she is a member of the Camp TEKO Master Planning Team, where she helps the traditions of camp endure. “Whether it’s shaving cream wars or learning to swim in the lake instead of a pool, our priority is to keep what we love about camp. It’s what links our generations together, she said.
Jorie’s sons Blake and Drew are among TEKO’s newest generation of campers. “I met one of my best friends at Camp,” said Drew. “I’ve made a ton of friends there. It’s so much fun—I really love the sports, boating and learning about Israeli culture,” added Blake.
Blake and Drew have not only added a link and a chapter to their family’s TEKO story – they’ve also added some of that graffiti to camp. “In the Arrow cabin with all these signatures you try to find people you know. I found my mom’s signature and signed my name right under hers,” Drew said.
