Who’s Who: Summer 2026

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 2026.

Learn about SLC’s year-round Leadership Team.

Mainside Senior Staff

Rob-Division Head

Shalom! I’m Rob and this will be my 24th summer at Surprise Lake Camp, my 22nd 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. Camp is my happy place, and I’m looking forward to returning as the Mainside Head Counselor this summer, and to play a strong 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 SLC 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, one parakeets, a leopard gecko, many fish, and 13 chickens (for now)! Since I played the role of “Farmer Celia” for three summers and I live nearby, I help to start the seedlings and plant the majority of camp’s garden beds prior to the summer. As for the chickens, they can’t wait to return! Camp is their happy place, too, where they get to free range all day, every day!

Neil-Support Supervisor

Hello, I’m Neil and this will be my 15th 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 12th summer at SLC. I have been a Unit Supervisor, the Head Counselor of Teenside and I am very excited for my 7th 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

Hey, my name is Dylan this will be my 18th 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!

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 17 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 24th summer at SLC, 17th 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! I’m excited to have my son back at camp with me to continue his camp journey!