Leadership Team

This will be Alex’s 2^nd summer as our Jewish Program Director.  Alex is currently earning a master’s degree in Jewish Education and is a graduate teaching fellow at the University of Pittsburgh.  He is also a Youth Advisor and Religious School teacher at Temple Sinai in Pittsburgh.  Alex has years of camp experience including working at JCC Camp Kingswood, Camp Walden and at the Pittsburgh JCC specialty and day camps.  As of June 1, 2019, Alex is the new Diller Teen Fellows Director at the Pittsburgh JCC.

Alex says, “I like working with children because they aren’t afraid to take a risk and ask questions.    It’s my job to have fun with kids and teach them about Judaism while living next to a lake–so, it all sounds pretty appealing.  This summer, we are totally revamping Jewish programs at camp with more hands-on activities, experiential Shabbats, and a Tikkun Olam program for our teen campers!

Paula has been at EKC for 21 summers.  In her role as Health Center Director, Paula is responsible for coordinating doctors and nurses schedules, all medication routines for campers, communicating with parents as it relates to campers’ medical issues, and directly supervises the nurses.

As a camper care specialist, Paula makes sure every Sabra and Kineret camper (campers entering grades 2-6) is happy, healthy, safe and successful at camp.  She partners with in-cabin staff to meet the individual needs of all campers, especially those who struggle to adjust to the camp community.

Paula communicates with camper’s parents via phone and email to ensure each camper’s needs are being met and parents stay informed about their child throughout their time at camp.  When not at camp, Paula is a Health and Physical Education Teacher at Sto-Rox High School.

Dana has been at EKC for 21 summers.  In her role as Camper Care Specialist, Dana makes sure every Teen camper (campers entering grades 7-10) is happy, healthy, safe and successful at camp.  She partners with in-cabin staff to meet the individual needs of all campers, especially those who struggle to adjust to the camp community.

Dana communicates with camper’s parents via phone and email to ensure each camper’s needs are being met and parents stay informed about their child throughout their time at camp.  In her role as Staff Advisor, Dana counsels staff on co-counselor and team dynamics, personal issues, and managing their campers.  During the school year, Dana is a school counselor at Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh.

Maddie has worked at EKC for 6 summers. She was a counselor for four years, led the SIT trip as a unit head, and was the Kineret unit head.  While living in Minneapolis from 2015 to 2018, she spent a summer working at Camp TEKO, a Jewish day camp through Temple Israel on Lake Minnetonka in Long Lake, Minnesota.   Maddie is a school counselor at Franklin Elementary School in Sewickley, PA.  She has a Master’s degree in Adlerian Counseling and Psychotherapy and is a licensed K-12 school counselor.

When asked why she works with children, she said, “I have always loved working with youth and being able to watch them grow into great people. There are a number of ups and downs that children are facing on a day to day basis and I love being able to guide them through those experiences and support them along the way.”

She credits EKC with shaping so much of who she is today by allowing her to grow both personally and professionally.

This will be Spencer’s 5^th year as a staff member and overall 14^th summer at EKC.  Over the years at camp, Spencer has always played a big role in our Gesher program, serving as a counselor and mentor to younger Gesher staff.  He is a 4^th generation EKC staff member.  Spencer is from Westchester, New York.  He is currently a junior at University of Pennsylvania studying English.

Spencer has experience working with social skills and mentoring programs in his local community for high school students and young adults with special needs.

Spencer keeps coming back to camp every summer because he loves providing experiences for the campers that are the same amazing ones he had as a camper.

In his new role as a Camper Care Specialist, Spencer will work primarily with Sabra and Kineret campers managing camper concerns and supporting staff.  Spencer says “when I was younger, I remember Paula Dugan always helping me out as a camper and I can’t wait to pay it forward and have the opportunity to do the same.”

This will be Jared’s 9^th summer working at camp.  Over the years Jared has served in many roles including counselor, Unit Head and most recently our Staff Engagement Coordinator.  Jared is excited to be returning this summer in a role where he can support staff in various ways and plan programs for camp that will have a lasting impact.

Jared is currently an Education Coordinator at Success Academy in New York City.  He is a graduate of Michigan University and is originally from Pittsburgh.

This will be Ben’s 9^th summer working at camp.  Ben has served in a variety of roles including Athletics specialist, counselor, Athletics Supervisor, Ropes Course Supervisor, and SIT Unit Leader and Director.

This summer, Ben will be focusing on all mass programming, staff activities and staff appreciation.  Ben is excited to meet staff from all over the world and make camp as fun for them as it is for the campers.  Ben has served in so many various roles on staff over the years, so he is able to relate to and support the staff through some of the challenges they might face.

Currently, Ben is a 7^th grade Associate Math Teacher at Success Academy in new York City.  He is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and is originally from Pittsburgh.

This will be Tyler’s second summer at EKC.  This summer, Tyler will be leading our newly revamped Outdoor Trips and Travel program called Tiyulim.

Tyler has several years of experience working at Camp Willson in Ohio.  He is currently a senior at West Virginia University studying Wildlife and Fisheries Resources and Conservation Ecology.

Tyler loves working in the camp environment because of the setting has always been comfortable and inviting.  He says, “Everyone at camp is there to learn, grow and have fun and the impact you can have on a child in this type of setting has the potential to be huge.”  Tyler’s goal this summer is to give campers new experiences in nature, help campers get out of their comfort zones and find out something they did not know about themselves.  He believes this can be achieved through outdoor recreation and education.

Sean has been a staff member at EKC for the past 4 summers.  He has worked at both the Lake and the Pool.  He is an American Red Cross Lifeguard, as well as First Aid/CPR certified.  Sean is a student at West Virginia University earning a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Management.

What appeals most to him about camp is the sense of community and family. He said, “I felt welcomed and accepted extremely quickly my first summer. Not only have I made awesome life-long friends at camp, some of them are from all over the world.” He says he loves working with kids because he is a big kid.  “Kids are funny and keep me on my toes.  They unexpectedly surprise you and know how to get deep and keep it real.  Kids help remind me to keep life simple.”

This summer he wants to prioritize safety, followed closely by teamwork of the staff and having an absolute blast. His goal is to give every kid at least one “movie quality” memory of summer camp.

This will be Jacob’s 4^th summer working at camp and 11th summer at EKC overall. He has certifications in New Jersey Boating Safety, American Red Cross Lifeguarding, CPR, First Aid, AED, -PADI Open Water Scuba, and Teaching English as a foreign language.  He is currently a sophomore at Penn State University majoring in mechanical engineering, when asked why he enjoyed working at camp, Jacob said, “Of course, one of the best parts about working at camp is having the opportunity to work with children. It’s really rewarding to watch them mature from one summer to the next and to have the opportunity to be a role model for them in such a dynamic period in their lives. I always love hearing their hilarious stories and refreshing outlook on the world.”

He explained, “there is no place in the world like camp. My best friends are my camp friends – from Pittsburgh to Australia. Growing up at EKC has also given me so much perspective on life and allowed me to develop the confidence to become my full self. I hope to help campers develop the same lifelong friends, life skills, and unforgettable memories that I have been so fortunate to have had the opportunity to make over the past decade.

With our brand new docks, blob platform and Malibu boat in combination with our passionate, experienced team, the waterfront will be elevated to a whole new level this summer. Cheat Lake has no idea what’s coming its way! Beyond merely facilitating our activities, we strive to lead every single activity period with our 100% energy while paying special attention to each individual camper. And, of course, safety is always our top priority. I can’t wait to kick off another unbelievable summer!”

This will be Lindsey’s 2nd summer at EKC.  Lindsey is a graduate of Hofstra University with a degree in Art Therapy.  She currently owns and operates her own art studio in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Lindsey loves working with children because their possibilities are endless.  Children, especially when it comes to art, are much less afraid than adults to “make a mistake” or have their art “not be good enough.”  This summer Lindsey is hoping to go deeper with our art projects at camp.  She wants to give our camper’s opportunities to really explore different aspects of themselves as well as different aspects of the world around them.

Emily is excited to be spending her first summer at EKC.  She is currently a senior at Glenville State College earning a Bachelor of Science.  In 2016 she was an intern at Cleveland State University Recreation designing and advertising camp brochures and serving as a camp instructor for young children. In 2017 and 2018 she worked as the playground program supervisor at MCPARC in Marion County where she was responsible for supervising campers ages 6-15, distributing and administering lunches to campers and staff, providing daily activities for the camp site, and attending weekly meetings with the board.

When asked about her inspiration for working with children, she said, “growing up I had big dreams through paying the sport that I love. I always dreamed of playing basketball at the college and pro levels in front of many people. Working with children I can see myself, that little girl that had a dream. I wish to help and encourage children to live out their dreams. My goal is to make them believe in themselves, because if it happened for me, it can happen for them too.”

This will be Jake’s 7^th summer on staff.  Jake spent 4 summers on staff as a lifeguard and served as the Teen Unit Head last summer.  He is excited to be returning as our Pool Supervisor for the second time.  Jake will oversee our swim lesson program, supervise lifeguards and oversee all day-to-day operations at our 3 pools.  Jake is a recent graduate of Ohio University with a degree in Political Science and Business Administration.

Nick is excited to return to EKC after having been away for 6 summers.  This will be Nick’s 4^th summer on staff.  Previously, he worked as a counselor and Teva (nature) specialist.  Nick is from Seattle, Washington.  He is a graduate of the University of Puget Sound where he earned a degree in International Political Economy.

Nick spends his weekends in Seattle outdoors climbing, hiking, and mountaineering.  Nick spent time living in Israel so he is excited to connect Jewish values and nature in his role as the Outdoor Adventure Supervisor.

Nick says “I’ve made great friends over the years here and I am so excited to be back.  I love the Ropes Course because it is an opportunity to help kids break through barriers, overcome fears and try new experiences.”

This will be Sofia’s 3^rd summer at camp.  She has worked in horseback riding and helped manage the barn for the past 2 summers.  She found out about EKC through a British Exchange program called Camp America, which matches young adults up with jobs in summer camps.  Sofia says, “Because camp isn’t a big thing in England, I have never been a camper.  EKC is the  only camp I ever worked in.  Our campers and staff don’t know how lucky they are to have EKC in their lives and to look forward to every summer.  This has been such an incredible experience for me.

All of the campers are always so happy and excited to learn about what life is like in England and they really do make you feel at home. I like working with children because they are just so unpredictable, you never know what they are going to ask you or what they will find funny.  They keep me on my toes and are always there to just have fun, which I love.  I’m hoping that this summer we can get even more campers excited for the Barn and the horses with lots of new activities that don’t always have to involve riding because I know that some children are a bit hesitant. I’m also hoping to bring session long competition where the children can compete week on week for a grand prize at the end.”

Sofia is from a small town south of London, England called Epsom, which she says most people have never hesrd of but it is very close to Wimbledon.  She is a graduate of Canterbury Christ Church University with a degree in Sports and Exercise Science.

Aaron has worked at EKC for 4 summers as a Sabra and Teen counselor.  He plans to use all his camp experience and knowledge to implement some new and exciting programs and activities in Sabra this summer.  Aaron is currently a junior at Indiana University, Bloomington studying Informatics.

Aaron said, “I enjoy working with children because it is extremely entertaining and fulfilling. Especially with younger campers, there is an element of entertainment that can’t be found anywhere else. They are some of the funniest people I have ever interacted with, and they make you laugh on a daily basis. They need help and show so much appreciation.”

In 2017, Aaron was selected to represent EKC as a Cornerstone Fellow, a national leadership training program offered through the Foundation for Jewish Camp.   Last summer, Aaron was nominated by over 75 peers and awarded the most prestigious staff award, the Reuben Eli Mitrani Remarkable Staff Award.

This will be Jordan’s 4^th year as a staff member at EKC. She served as a counselor in Sabra in all 3 years on staff.  Jordan is a junior at the University of Maryland studying Elementary Education.  She spent last semester as a 2^nd grade student teacher at Fallsmead Elementary School in Maryland.  She is also a teacher at Kid’s Time Out, a childcare center in Maryland.

Jordan says “I like working with children for many reasons. I love to see kids grow! I have wanted to be a teacher my whole life, something that I am pursuing in college.  I like to help children learn, find their passions, and reach success!  Camp has always been a place where I feel comfortable, the main reason why I continue to go back.  It is where I found the most supportive, loving community and there is no place I’d rather spend my summer.”

She hopes to make the Sabra unit a fun, cohesive community and have her staff work collaboratively to make the most for the campers!  She says, “Sabra is the youngest age, and where the most impact is made. That being said, I want these campers to love camp as much as I do, and come back for as many years as I have. I hope and plan to provide amazing opportunities for these campers to make life-long, unforgettable memories.”

Carley has worked at EKC for 7 summers, with 10 years spent as a camper prior to that.  Carley worked at EKC as a counselor for 4 summers, Sabra Unit Head and Halutzim Unit Head where she was responsible for all day-to-day happenings involving camper care, staff engagement and program planning for the both units.

Carley enjoys working with kids because kids find happiness and fun in everything they do.  Every summer she looks forward to making camp fun for them and making a difference in their lives.  Carley is a recent graduate of Indiana University Bloomington with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies

This will be Danny’s 7th summer working at camp.  Danny was a counselor for 4 summers and the Kineret Unit Head for the past 3 summers.  Danny loves working with kids at camp because it is so amazing to watch them grow physically, mentally and emotionally summer after summer.

Danny is a graduate of Temple University with a degree in Early Childhood Education with a Concentration in Special Education.  He is currently a lead Early Childhood Educator at the Pittsburgh JCC’s Early Childhood Development Center.

This will be Shaked’s 3rd summer at EKC.  Shaked is from Israel, and first came to EKC in 2016 on the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Summer Schlihim Program.  Shaked has served as a youth counselor for the Hanoar Haoved Vehalomed Youth Movement and as a youth basketball coach for the Heisegi Karmiel Basketball Association.   Shaked was also a Diller Teen Fellow, which is an international Jewish leadership development program.

Shaked says, “Camp is the place everyone can really be themselves and it’s the place I made memories and most importantly friends that will last forever. I look forward to providing the same opportunities for campers.  I hope to bring the feeling of home and family to everyone in our unit and maybe even bringing a bit of my home in Israel.”

Howie has been at EKC for 13 summers, and this will be his fourth summer as a staff member.  He is a currently a junior at Florida State University earning a bachelor’s degree in Family and Child Sciences.  He calls EKC his second home, saying, “I like working with kids because deep down I am just a big kid. I love seeing the impact I have on the young children.” His goal for this summer is to impart life values, good communication skills, and confidence to campers so they step outside their comfort zones.

In 2015, Howie was EKC’s Athletic Specialist where he planned weekly activities to teach the fundamentals of various sports. He was also a counselor for two summers.  His goal is to ensure all campers have a positive and memorable experience at EKC.

Joe has worked at EKC for 4 summers as a counselor.  Joe is a junior at the University of Maryland earning a bachelor’s degree in Government and Politics and a minor in Public Policy.  Outside of camp, he has worked as a basketball coach for elementary and middle school children at the Pittsburgh JCC’s Harry B. Davis Basketball Clinic and Tiny Hoopers program.  He has also worked as a counselor in the JCC’s Clubhouse after school program.

Jessie has worked at EKC for 3 summers as a counselor.  She recently graduated from Lafayette College with a degree in Government, Law and Psychology.  Last year, Jessie worked in the AmeriCorps program where she served in a 10-week intensive program to make an impact in the lives of 16 children who live in underserved communities in Washington DC.

She is excited to work with teens this summer because her teen counselors and supervisors were incredibly important to her growing up, and she still keeps in touch with many of them. She explained, “I enjoy using my experiences to help teens learn to make good decisions and to respect themselves and others. The teen unit is special because the campers have a great opportunity to have amazing role models in their staff members. I hope to bring a sense of community and create a safe space for campers to be themselves.”

This will be Matt’s 4^th year as a staff member.  He also grew up at EKC as a third generation camper.   Matt is a junior at Penn State University studying Recreation, Park and Tourism Management.

In 2017, Matt was selected to represent EKC as a Cornerstone Fellow, a national leadership training program offered through the Foundation for Jewish Camp.  He also worked as a basketball coach in the Pittsburgh JCC’s Harry B. Davis basketball clinic.

Matt says, “I am hoping to bring a feeling of unity to my unit (the SITs) and help them grow into global citizens as I have through my years at camp, the Onward Israel internship and the Semester at Sea study abroad experience.  I want my campers to return to camp second session with an expanded view of the world that can help them become leaders and role models to the campers/ future staff at EKC.”

This will be Hannah’s first summer at EKC.  She is from New York City and is a recent graduate from Binghamton University where she studied math and engineering.  “I have been very fortunate to travel around the world, including living in Australia and leading a Jewish teen trip to Europe last summer.  I attended Jewish overnight camp for 11 summers and it had a huge impact on me.  As a teen, I participated in my camp’s version of an SIT program and led the program years later.  I understand how important this summer is and I am really looking forward to making it the best one yet.  Can’t wait to get to know everyone!”  Hannah has a ton of experience with teens and with leading trips internationally.

This will be Brad’s 6^th year as a staff member at EKC.  He currently teaches 7^th grade World History at Ryan Gloyer Middle School in Harmony, PA.  Brad worked as a Program Director at Herzl Camp in Wisconsin for 3 summers and at Ansfield Day Camp in Cleveland for 1 summer.

Brad loves working with children and teens because of their tireless energy and their ability to keep him on his toes and watch them grow and develop into independent people.

Brad says, “As a camper, I remember feeling like EKC was the place where I became confident in who I was. I also learned that I wanted to work as an educator after being a counselor and unit head for 5 summers. While I now get to work with students regularly in the classroom, camp is still that special place for me where I can truly be myself. I am so glad that I am returning to EKC so that I can continue building new friendships and memories!  As the SIT director, I have a strong desire to enhance the SITs leadership training and personal development both at camp and in Israel. I have led a teen trip to Israel in the past, and believe we as SIT staff can make the Israel component of the SIT experience as meaningful, relevant, and engaging as possible. The SIT experience is a wonderful opportunity to work with our SITs in a unique, transformative, and fun environment – one where they will find their voice, develop their personal identities, gain new perspectives, and build new friendships to become the next great group of staff.”

This will be Pam’s first summer at EKC.  She recently graduated from WVU with bachelor degrees in English and Strategic Communications.  She is very excited to immerse herself in camp life and keep show the magic of camp on our social media accounts.

Pam worked for 2 WVU (ASPIRE & Pre-Health) organizations managing their social media, writing blogs, and helping students with their writing, as well as the Eberly Writing Studio where She also tutors high school and college students in writing.

There’s nowhere else she would have chosen to experience camp for the first time.   She will be posting daily on Facebook, Instagram, and our blog.  Make sure you are checking us out and staying tuned in!

Caleb has been working at EKC for 7 summers, and was a camper 10 years prior to that.  This summer, Caleb will be our full-time videographer.  Caleb enjoys working with children in the camp environment because there is always an opportunity to build a relationship and teach them a new skill.

Caleb is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a degree is Media and Communications.  After graduating from college in 2015, he worked as an assistant videographer and photographer for Mauromedia in Chicago.  Caleb has done video projects for major companies such as Dick’s Sporting Goods, GNC, the Pittsburgh Marathon and the Little League World Series.  Since moving back to Pittsburgh in the fall of 2017, he has continued to do his own freelance work as a videographer and photographer.

This will be Annabelle’s 3^rd summer as a staff member at camp.  Prior to being our administrative coordinator, Annabelle worked in Arts and Crafts and was a teen counselor.   Annabelle is from West Sussex, England.  She is a graduate of the University of Liverpool where she earned a degree in Psychology.

Annabelle’s day-to-day responsibilities at camp will include managing all of our mail and package distribution, canteen and clothing sales, daily nosh and other operations responsibilities both in the office and around camp.

Annabelle says “I’ve made lifelong friends in my 3 years at EKC.  I have a particularly strong relationship with my teen campers from last summer who will be this year’s SIT’s.  I can’t wait to help them transition to becoming staff and be there for them all along the way.”