I am beyond excited to be at GUCI this summer! This will be my 19^th summer on camp and I can’t imagine spending this summer any other way! As the baby of the family, when my mom packed up my older siblings in addition to herself for a summer at camp, I too was squeezed into the van and at the age of 4 began my journey through Jewish camping, an experience unparalleled by any other.

Growing up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, I always knew that I would attend Indiana University, what I did not know was that all of my camp and NFTY friends would be there too! I studied Jewish Studies and Pre-Dentistry in Bloomington and was an active member of Hillel and served my sorority, Sigma Delta Tau, as Philanthropy Chair. In high school, I was fortunate to spend a semester in Jerusalem, Israel, through NFTY’s Eisendrath International Exchange program. Then again in college, I spent the spring of my junior year at Tel Aviv University. With both of these experiences, my closest friends from camp were right there with me. I believe that our knowledge of Judaism and experience with Hebrew and Zionism at GUCI afforded us deeper understandings of Israel and our own Jewish identities.

For the past two years, I have been working as a Teach For America teacher in Saint Louis, MO. When applying to this AmeriCorps Service Program, I was aware that it would draw me away from camp for a couple summers. After completing my alternative certification training in Chicago and then teaching Biology and Anatomy, I have enough material to write a book, or at least this blog post! It is thrilling that you are sending your child to spend the summer with us this year because I KNOW that it was all my years experience at camp that afforded me the honor of being a TFA corps member. My success in the classroom is derived from my development as a camper and then as a staff member. The skills I gained at camp are what most adequately prepared me for teaching in the city school atmosphere and working with many different personalities. So, it only seems right that before I return for a third year in the classroom that I’d return to recharge my soul and fuel campers’ successes this summer at GUCI!

This summer I will be the Administrator, in charge of helping camp to run smoothly and effectively. In the past I have been Gezah Head Counselor, Shoresh Unit Head, Anaf Unit Head, and head songleader. My favorite meal on camp is chicken patties and I enjoy competing with campers to correctly guess what dessert will be served at dinner each day.

Fun facts: I am talented at rolling sushi and falling asleep, I have an extensive collection of costumes and props for dress-up, I sing karaoke and have my own dance moves when I perform, and I meet up with my camp friends at least 3 times a year, every year since we were 13!