Who’s Who for Summer 2025

Want to know more about the amazing senior staff we will have at Camp this summer? Here is the dream team that will be guiding SLC for Summer 2025.

Learn about SLC’s year-round Leadership Team.

Mainside Senior Staff

Rob-Division Head

Shalom! I’m Rob and this will be my 23rd summer at Surprise Lake Camp, my 21st as a staff member. During the offseason, I am a public school elementary science teacher in the South Bronx. I had no idea how much camp was going to profoundly change my life when I first arrived as a 14 year old camper. My confidence immediately soared as I made friends and memories that will last forever. Years later, I still consider my camp friends to be my best friends. As a group counselor, unit supervisor, and Head Counselor, I’ve had the pleasure of working with many talented staff members who have been tremendously successful in helping campers become the best versions of themselves. Surprise Lake Camp has done incredible wonders for me as a teenager and young adult, and I am beyond thrilled to continue this work in giving back to our campers as camp has done for me.

Celia-Head Counselor

Hi, I’m Celia and I have been at camp since 1994. I’m really excited for the opportunity to be the Mainside Head Counselor this summer, and to play a bigger role in the staff and camper experience. In the off-season I work part time as the SLC Alumni & Special Events Coordinator, and I also serve as the Education Director at Beacon Hebrew Alliance. I love camp and this area of the Hudson Valley so much that I moved to Cold Spring in 2009. I live here with Sheryl, our daughter Parker, and two dogs, two cats, two parakeets, a leopard gecko, a hamster, fish, and chickens! I was “Farmer Celia” for the past three summers. For those of you worried about the SLC Farm, never fear! I will still be starting our seedlings and planting the majority of our garden beds prior to the summer. The chickens will be back, too!

Neil-Support Supervisor

Hello, I’m Neil and this will be my 14th summer at Surprise Lake Camp. During the year I am a School Social Worker for the New York City Department of Education, private psychotherapist, and a parent to three wonderful sons. This summer at Camp, in addition to my roles as Support Supervisor, I will be serving as Jedi Knight, Story Teller and Magician. I enjoy Camp because it is a great place to learn about children while watching them challenge themselves, grow and mature. As usual, I am looking forward to meeting and working with a great bunch of kids this summer.

Teenside Senior Staff

Robbie-Division Head

Hi, I’m Robbie and this will be my 11th summer at SLC. I have been a Unit Supervisor, the Head Counselor of Teenside and I am very excited for my 6th summer as the Division Head of Teenside. During the year, I am a teacher, a tutor, and a full time mom. If that wasn’t enough, I play tennis too! SLC is special to me because I love being able to spend my summer outdoors being active. I swim in the lake, hike with Whammy and play outside. This summer I am looking forward to the same things that I look forward to every summer: meeting new people, both staff members and campers, as well as reconnecting with old friends! I think that the relationships that we build truly make every summer special.

Dylan - Head Counselor (S1)

Hey, my name is Dylan this will be my 17th summer at Surprise Lake Camp. When I am not at SLC I work at a gym. I am also a full-time student at SUNY Broome. SLC is special to me not just because of how great it is enjoying the outdoors, but also having fun, growing more connections with people every summer, and really trying to give the campers (new and old) the amazing experience that I had growing up as a camper here. This makes SLC such an amazing place that I love coming back to!

Luis - Head Counselor (S2)

Hi, I’m Luis and this will be my 8th summer at SLC! Over the years, I’ve done many different jobs at camp, and I’m so excited to return as the Teenside Head Counselor for Second Session. Last summer was my first on Teenside after years with the younger campers, and I absolutely loved the energy, the growth, and the connections that happen with our oldest campers.

During the year, I live in Spain where I’m working on a master’s degree in Marketing and working in Sales for an online tutoring platform. Originally, I’m from Mexico, and I love that camp has connected me with people from all over the world.

SLC is one of the most important places in my life. It’s where I’ve grown as a person and as a leader, where I’ve made lifelong friends, and where I feel most like myself. I’m looking forward to another amazing summer filled with laughter, adventure, and unforgettable memories with both new and familiar faces.

Denise-Support Supervisor

Hi, I’m Denise, a creator of safe, nurturing spaces — and I look forward to working with the SLC Teenside community! Through my work with people of all ages, I offer guidance, presence, and tools that invite others to awaken their inner potential and live with greater harmony and purpose.

With a strong background in both education and the arts, I teach theater, and conflict resolution classes to preteens and teenagers, and also offer workshops for educators—always grounded in emotional connection, active listening, and respect for individuality. I’m also the artistic producer of the children’s musical “Mimu, a World Within the World,” which was recently awarded the prestigious ATINA Award for Best Production, in Argentina.

For the past 16 years, I’ve directed a mobile preschool based in New York City, promoting learning through play, connection, and exploration. I’m also the founder of Sanando Infancias (“Healing Childhoods”), a space where I guide adults in healing their own emotional wounds, recognizing that personal wellbeing directly impacts the next generation. In 2025, I released my debut book: “Sanar para Criar,” (“Healing to parenting”) an invitation to look inward, transform old wounds, and support children from a more conscious and loving place.

Campwide Senior Staff

Ilana-Health Ctr Director

Hi, I’m Ilana and this will be my 23rd summer at SLC, 16th as staff! During the year, I am a School Nurse in New Brunswick, NJ. Surprise Lake Camp is special to me because it is where I have always felt happiest. All school year, I look forward to the summer at SLC. I am looking forward to meeting all the new staff and campers along with everyone who is returning. It is always my favorite thing seeing campers fall in love with Camp like I did! Extra special this summer I can’t wait to have my baby at camp with me and start his camp journey!

Perseus-Program Director

Hi, I’m Perseus and this will be my 6th summer at Surprise Lake Camp. Outside of camp, I “worldschool” with my family. We spend each semester in a different country learning by living! I also work at a dog daycare when I’m in the states, and I’m a musician. I’ve been in a few different positions at camp from counselor to the Arts and Crafts Specialist. But I’m most excited about my current position as Program Director. It gives me the opportunity to give so much to our camp community. SLC is such a magical place and I can’t wait to be back this summer!