Name: Lyndsey

Hometown: Akron, Ohio

Years at camp: 4th summer as Camp Director

Why did you decide to work at Camp JCC? After graduating with a degree in Early Childhood Education, I spent 7 years in the classroom before transitioning into this wonderful role at The Shaw JCC! I love working with children and enjoy organizing out-of-school-time fun for them to engage in!

What is your favorite travel experience? I spent a few weeks in China, teaching at a boarding school! It was such a unique experience. The people, food, weather and culture were unlike anything I'd ever encountered! It was such a transformative trip. 

What do you do when you're not working at Camp? You can always find me with my dog! We love to go on hikes in the Metroparks and walks around our neighborhood. 

Tell us a cool fact about yourself. I'm going to be a first-time mom this year!

What are you most excited about for summer 2023? I am most excited to welcome new campers to Camp JCC -- especially my future camper, Baby Heffern!

Name: Helena

Hometown: Akron, Ohio

Years at camp: This will be my 2nd year

Why did you decide to work at Camp JCC? I had so much fun getting to know the campers last year that when I was offered the position to come back I couldn't say no! 

What is your favorite travel experience? My favorite travel experience was traveling through Europe in college for 2 weeks and going to the south of France.

What do you do when you're not working at Camp? If I'm not at camp, I'm hanging out with my family and my dog Bowie! 

Tell us a cool fact about yourself. A cool fact about myself is I'm getting my doctorate in occupational therapy!

What are you most excited about for summer 2023? I'm most excited about going to Alaska in August!

Name: Lea

Hometown: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Years at camp: This will be my 2nd year

Why did you decide to work at Camp JCC? I work with high school students during the school year, so I am excited to work with younger children during the summer! I love getting to know them and learning their favorite things!

What is your favorite travel experience? I traveled to Arizona a couple of years ago to visit my brother. It is so beautiful there and there were so many fun adventures we went on!

What do you do when you're not working at Camp? I love going on walks outside, sitting in the sun, playing with my cats. 

Tell us a cool fact about yourself. I am a twin.

What are you most excited about for summer 2023? I am most excited to get to know new kiddos at camp who have never been before and have fun with them experiencing it for the first time! Outside of camp I think I will be going on a small vacation to Utah, so I am excited to travel again!

Name: Sarah

Hometown: Newton Falls, Ohio

Years at camp: 1

Why did you decide to work at Camp JCC? I have always felt a connection to kids and have enjoyed working with them for the last 12 years as a bus driver. Coming here gave me a chance to really be involved and make a difference in their lives. 

What is your favorite travel experience? As a kid my parents use to take me to Niagara Falls. We would go two to three times a year. It was close enough to drive and always a fun family trip.

What do you do when you're not working at Camp? I am a full time wife and mom. My husband and I run a small antique business behind our home, which his father built in the 80s. He ran it for years before he passed in 2017. We made it our mission to reopen the family business and we did that in October of 2020. 

Tell us a cool fact about yourself. I am a karaoke lover and have sung karaoke songs for years but get nervous when put on the spot in any other public place.

What are you most excited about for summer 2023? I am most excited to see new and familiar faces this summer. I look forward to building bonds with each and everyone of my students. 

Name: JD

Hometown: Barberton, Ohio

Years at camp: 0

Why did you decide to work at Camp JCC? I currently work at the JCC for morning & aftercare and wanted to continue working during summer.

What is your favorite travel experience? Going to Destin, Florida.

What do you do when you're not working at Camp? My favorite hobby is to golf.

Tell us a cool fact about yourself. I played collegiate ping pong.

What are you most excited about for summer 2023? Meeting all the kids and experience all the activities that camp has to offer. 

Name: Amir

Hometown: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Years at camp: This is my first year.

Why did you decide to work at Camp JCC? To inspire campers to learn and grow. 

What is your favorite travel experience? I actually haven't traveled much.

What do you do when you're not working at Camp? Trying to find ways to take a nap. 

Tell us a cool fact about yourself. I love breakfast food. 

What are you most excited about for summer 2023? To have fun. 

Name: Katelyn

Hometown: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Years at camp: This is my first year.

Why did you decide to work at Camp JCC? I am an English teacher as a Second Language teacher/tutor and love working with the kids. We have a lot of fun and it brings me so much joy to see their faces light up when they understand something new or are just having a good time!

What is your favorite travel experience? I have traveled to a lot of interesting places. Last summer, my husband and I went to Portugal and spent 3 weeks exploring Lisbon and Porto. The food was incredible and the architecture was beautiful. I also loved my time in Japan, South Korea, and Italy. 

What do you do when you're not working at Camp? As mentioned, I am an ESL teacher/tutor, so during the school year I've been working for a couple of districts with their students. I have two rabbits, Peanut and Coco, whom I enjoy taking lots of cute pictures of and relaxing with. I also have an interest in exploring new places as well as vintage and thrift shopping.  

Tell us a cool fact about yourself. As I mentioned before, I have visited Japan. I actually visited there twice before I spent 6 months working as an English professor at a uniersity close to Nagasaki. I studied Japanese as a foreign language for about three years in college, so I am able to hold small conversations in Japanese!

What are you most excited about for summer 2023? I am really excited to work with the 2nd graders at Camp JCC! That age group is one of my favorites to work with and the set-up of camp sounds like a lot of fun and a great way for me to "unwind" after a hectic couple of years. I am also excited about a trip to the Outer Banks that I will be taking in early June with my husband. 

Name: Danielle

Hometown: Tallmadge, Ohio

Years at camp: First one.

Why did you decide to work at Camp JCC? I decided to work at camp because I am moving back home to the Akron area from Dayton. I really want to plug my roots back into the community I grew up in and what better way than to do it with kiddos!

What is your favorite travel experience? It would have to be a tie between Canada and Ormond Beach, Florida. Niagara Falls was so pretty but I also loved hunting for seashells on the beach!

What do you do when you're not working at Camp? Currently I am a first grade teacher in Dayton, but when summer starts I will spend my days playing sims, renovating my house, taking care of my mom, and preparing for my next classroom. 

Tell us a cool fact about yourself. I am a first generation college student! 

What are you most excited about for summer 2023? I am excited to meet some more kiddos and impact their lives. I'm also really excited to finally be living back home. 

Name: Logan

Hometown: Wooster, Ohio

Years at camp: This will be my first year.

Why did you decide to work at Camp JCC? I decided to work at camp because I thought it sounded like fun!

What is your favorite travel experience? It would have to be going to Myrtle Beach.

What do you do when you're not working at Camp? I am a teacher. 

Tell us a cool fact about yourself. I enjoy playing video games. 

What are you most excited about for summer 2023? I am excited to have some fun!

Name: Ms. Elizabeth

Hometown: Akron, Ohio

Years at camp: This will be my first year at JCC.

Why did you decide to work at Camp JCC? I started working at The Lippman school at the end of March as the library teacher and have loved the sense of community created in the school and I have seen the same in the JCC. It is for this reason that I am excited to work as a camp counselor and get to know more people in the JCC, Lippman, and the surrounding communities throughout these summer camps. 

What is your favorite travel experience? I loved when I went to Washington D.C.and got to see all the different museums that are apart of the Smithsonian. I have always loved museums since I was little, and my dad would take my sister and I to different museums around Ohio. 

What do you do when you're not working at Camp? I love going hiking with my dog Ruby who is an Australian Shepard, in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. When I am not hiking with my dog, I love visiting the Akron Zoo and the Main Library in Downtown Akron. 

Tell us a cool fact about yourself. I am in the process of writing a fantasy fiction novel that is set in the Middle Ages.

What are you most excited about for summer 2023? I am looking forward to working at the JCC summer camp as well as finding new places to explore with my dog. 

Name: Brooke

Hometown: Kent, Ohio

Years at camp: This will be my first summer!

Why did you decide to work at Camp JCC? I've heard amazing things about the camp and the employees here!

What is your favorite travel experience? I loved the people I met while backpacking the Maryland portion of the Appalachian Trail and hearing their stories. 

What do you do when you're not working at Camp? I love being active outside. So either going for a run or going on a hike with my dogs!

Tell us a cool fact about yourself. I've ran 5 half marathons!

What are you most excited about for summer 2023? I 'm excited for the new opportunities and the adventures I have planned. 

Name: Tyra

Hometown: Youngstown, Ohio

Years at camp: This will be my first year!

Why did you decide to work at Camp JCC? I love working with kids! It's so rewarding to see them have fun, learn and grow. Plus, I get to spend my summer outside doing fun activities. As well as the amazing goals and mission of Camp JCC. 

What is your favorite travel experience? Riding in a helicopter over Myrtle Beach has been my favorite experience so far. 

What do you do when you're not working at Camp? When I'm not working I am usually spending time with my family and friends!

Tell us a cool fact about yourself. A cool fact about me is I am a twin!

What are you most excited about for summer 2023? I am excited to meet new people and experience the JCC Camp for the first time. 

Name: Noah

Hometown: Urichsville, Ohio

Years at camp: This is my second year.

Why did you decide to work at Camp JCC? I came back this summer because everyone is so kind and friendly! I can't wait to see some old faces and meet new friends. 

What is your favorite travel experience? My favorite traveling experience was when I went down to North Carolina with my family for a week and got to camp out on the beach next to the ocean for a few days and the spend another few days in a cabin in the mountains. 

What do you do when you're not working at Camp? When I'm not at camp, I'm doing whatever catches my interest on that day, whether it's reading in a hammock, designing a language, knitting a cardigan, or doing art on my tablet. 

Tell us a cool fact about yourself. I can play the ukulele (and own too many). 

What are you most excited about for summer 2023? I am excited to be moving to Columbus with my friends in August! Until then, I want to experience Akron while I can, like going to Porckokr and Lock 3.