Get to know the people who make Camp Yachad special!
Mike Goldstein, Camp Co-Director
Mike Goldstein, Camp Co-Director Summer 2011 will mark Mike's seventh summer at Camp Yachad and his fifth as Camp Co- Director. Before joining the JCC in 2004, Mike was a Camp Program Director at Liberty Lake Day Camp in Columbus, NJ and Meadowbrook Country Day Camp in Long Valley, NJ. Mike's Masters degree in music prepared him for his place in the Shabbatones, Camp Yachad's very own Shabbat rock band.
Jodi Hotra, Camp Co-Director
Jodi has worked at Camp Yachad for 11 years and has been the Camp Co-Director for the past five years. Year-round, she oversees the JCC's Aquatics and Recreation Departments. Prior to that Jodi was the JCC's Youth and After School Director, and she ran Camp Yachad's travel camp program for several years. Her professional experience and love of camping shines through in everything she does at Camp Yachad.
Barak Herman, Executive Director
Barak is in his fourth year as the JCC's Executive Director and he strives to create a welcoming, vibrant center with wonderful programs and services, including Camp Yachad. Barak has been involved in Jewish camping for over 25 years in variety of positions including camp director for both day and travel camps. Because of his love of summer camps and the value that Camp Yachad provides our community, one of Barak's priorities is to be sure Camp Yachad maintains its edge.
Robin Brous, Assistant Executive Director & Early Childhood Services Director
Robin was Camp Yachad's Director for 13 years and currently supervises the Camp Yachad Co-Directors. She helped transform Yachad into the camp that it is today. In her current roles as Assistant Executive Director and Early Childhood Services Director, Robin gets to interact with campers all year long which she considers one of the best perks of her job. ^ top
Kim Koza, Aquatics Director
Kim is the JCC's year-round Aquatics Director and in Summer 2011, she will begin her third summer leading Camp Yachad's American Red Cross swim program. When it comes to the water, Kim does it all: she is a swimmer, lifeguard, swim coach and pool manager. Under Kim's direction, the JCC's Aquatics programs and swim lessons have become very highly regarded in the community.
Gary Schaefer, Travel Camp and Sports Director
Gary has been at Camp Yachad for 15 years as Travel Camp Director and Sports Director. During the school year, Gary is a physical education teacher at Greenbrook Elementary School in NJ. He also is the JCC's Director of Sports Leagues which includes overseeing all of the JCC's youth and men's league programs. His love of sports shows in the excellent sports programming at Camp Yachad.
Beth Kasper, Director JCC Summer Academy for Performing Arts
Beth has been bringing music, acting and fun to the JCC for six years. She began her JCC career as Camp Yachad ’s Music and Movement Specialist and then served as a Camp Yachad Unit Director for the Megalim group. Currently, Beth is the JCC’s preschool Music Specialist, and she has also been instrumental in building the JCC’s theater program in the role of co-director. Beth has watched this theater program grow by leaps and bounds over the last three years.
Her theater background includes directing Neil Simon’s “Plaza Suite,” Elaine May’s “Adaptation” and a number of One Act Plays. She earned her Actors Equity Eligibility by touring the East Coast with a children’s theater group and has also performed in many local theatrical productions including Morales in “A Chorus Line,” Winifred in “Once Upon A Mattress,” Miss Hannigan in “Annie” and Rosie in “Bye, Bye Birdie.” Most recently she played the part of the witch in “Rapunzel” at Plays-In-The-Park in Edison .
In her new summertime role as director of the JCC’s and Union County Vocational Technical School’s new Summer Academy for Performing Arts, Beth plans on using her love of theater to enhance the experience of the Summer Academy’s campers.
Mary Ann has been on the Camp Yachad staff for 16 years and has been instrumental in bringing a wide array of special activities to Camp Yachad. She has devoted her career to children in public school education, scouting and
summer camp. During the school year, Mary Ann runs the JCC's After School Services Department which includes Vacation Zone programs. Mary Ann's yea rround focus is to provide fun, creative and engaging activities for our children.
Cathy Pizzella, Camp Adminstrator
Cathy has been at Camp Yachad for 12 years. She started as a counselor, became an Assistant Unit Head in travel camp and is now the Camp Administrator. Since her time as a counselor, Cathy has spent a lot of time working with children. As a result, she is a familiar face and beloved personality among Camp Yachad and JCC children.
Our Israeli Staff
Shlichim, which is Hebrew for emissary, are Israel community representatives that serve in Jewish communities throughout the world and serve as a cultural and educational link between the people in local communities and the people of Israel. In addition to our great local staff, we also host a group of shlichim each year. About two weeks before the camp season begins, our shlichim join us to help set up and infuse our campsite with Israeli culture. Then the summer begins, and their energy, character and enthusiasm, along with their Israeli heritage, add a unique difference to our Camp Yachad staff. Without a doubt, all of our Camp Yachad campers (and staff) learn and benefit from their time spent with our shlichim.
