DIRECTOR: Hi! my name is Dan Irving. I have been involved in Jewish camping at the JCC virtually all my life: a camper from ages 5 to 13 at Camp Sisol and Camp Seneca Lake; becoming music specialist at Sisol at age 22; spending the next 10 years learning, growing and working at camp including 1 summer as assistant director at Camp Seneca Lake and 7 years as staff director and assistant director at Camp Sisol.
Along the way, I earned my bachelor’s degree in 2001 from SUNY Geneseo in Anthropology, traveling twice to Cuba for fieldwork in Afro-Cuban music and religion. I learned about the diversity of humanity and our interconnectedness in the basic needs and experiences that all people have in common. I also saw intense poverty as well as amazing resilience in the cultures I visited and this inspired me to connect with my own—Judaism.
I have pursued my Jewishness and my desire to be part of repairing the world (Tikkun Olam) in my career. My interest in leadership and management as well as working with and helping people grew along with my interest in Jewish camping. I have taken my professional development seriously, reading books and participating in conferences and workshops whenever I could, as a means to ensure that Camp Sisol is on par with other excellent camps around the country and is best serving our campers. I worked as program director for Hillel of Rochester Area Colleges at RIT and SUNY Geneseo for 2 years in 2004 and 2005, deepening my own Jewish roots, connecting with Jewish young adults and widening my professional perspective working in another organization and demographic. Finally, I was thrilled to become director of Camp Sisol and the Gesher after school program in 2006.
I immensely enjoy getting to know the staff, children and families I work with. I am proud to have worked with others in our agency and the community to create our Kesher (connections) program for children with special needs. Although I have worked closely with children for 15 years, I am brand new to fatherhood. I now have even greater respect for parents and appreciation for the magic and wonder of childhood. In that spirit, I aim to impart to the Camp Sisol staff the importance, joy and awesome responsibility inherent in our jobs at camp.
In addition to spending time with my family, cooking, music and camping are my hobbies and I have always loved to bring these to camp whenever I can. I like to create… whether cooking in the kitchen, writing songs for my rock band Gripewater or pulling together a great summer at Camp Sisol!
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: My name is Carlin Dohr, and I am the brand new Assistant Director of Camp Sisol! I have worked at camp the past two years, as a Tzofim and Tayarim counselor, and as the Arts and Crafts Specialist. I graduated from Nazareth College in 2008 with a degree in Psychology. I love working at camp because I love to see kids grow into their personalities and expand their interests in a fun place like Camp. My favorite hobby is singing, and I have performed in many musicals over the past ten years. I grew up right down the road from Camp in Honeoye Falls, and enjoy being so close in the summer! During the school year, I work as the Assistant Director of the Gesher After School Program at the JCC. I am most excited to see all the campers and to create some really awesome programs this summer!
PROGRAM DIRECTOR: Katie Nix
STAFF DIRECTOR/KESHER COORDINATOR: My name is Josh Blumkin, I'm 35 years old and I went to the University of Rochester for my bachelor's degree and SUNY-Albany for my Masters and CAS in School Psychology. Last year was my first year at Camp Sisol (working as the program director) and I am very excited to return to camp as the Staff Director/Kesher Coordinator! I have extensive knowledge and training in developmental child psychology, creating curriculums for children with special needs, applied behavior analysis, motivation of children, and 13 years experience as a summer camp employee. During those years, I worked in nearly every role from kitchen worker to counselor to camp director. These days, I can often be found playing the piano, running after discs on an ultimate frisbee field, and (when the weather's a bit colder) skiing whenever I get the chance. I am excited for the summer to get out and enjoy the beauty of Camp Sisol, see all of the camper's smiling faces, and prepare our staff and our campers for a safe, fun-filled, active summer.
JUDAIC DIRECTOR: Hello! My name is Yvonne Asher and I will be the Judaic Director and Tarbut (Jewish Culture) staff at camp this summer! I have a master's degree in Jewish education, and this will be my 6th summer at Camp Sisol. Celebrating Shabbat is one of my favorite parts of camp and I am very much looking forward to another wonderful summer of special programs, coming together as a kehillah (community), and singing. I am excited to plan tikkun olam projects (volunteer opportunities) for the coming summer so that we can explore ways to give back to the larger community. Last but certainly not least, I can't wait to get out to camp and start planting our gan (garden)!
CIT DIRECTOR: Hi everyone! My name is Carolyn Karbel, I am 22 years old, and just graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Marketing. This is my first year working at Camp Sisol (even though I was a camper way back in the day) and I am so excited to be a part of the staff for Summer ’10! I love to dance, shop, hang out with my friends, listen to music, and most of all travel. I’ve traveled through 34 states and 16 international countries! Throughout my college career I held many different leadership positions, as well as attended many leadership seminars, and am eager to put those skills to use when working with the CITs this summer. I am most looking forward to getting to know all of the campers and to help shape the future leaders of Camp Sisol!
AQUATICS DIRECTOR: Hanna Bergwall
ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR: Marjory David
