Meet Our Camp Staff
Our camp leadership team is comprised of a group of professional, caring, and dedicated staff who ensure that the safety, physical and social emotional needs of the campers are being met daily.
18 Things About Us
My Chai (Life)
In Hebrew, each letter has a numerical value. The number 10 is the letter Yud. The number 8 is the letter Het. Het-Yud spells the word Chai (חי), meaning 18, and is usually pronounced like the English word “hi” or “high,” which is a word and symbol that means “life.” In fact, a common Jewish toast is “l’chaim!,” which means, “to life!” is often said at celebrations in anticipation of all the good things to come. The number chai, or 18, also symbolizes luck.
Carrie Latimer
JCC Rockland Camps Director
- I have two children who I adore more then anything in the world; they are my life.
- I can get by with just eating nothing but cookies and cake.
- I love using GIFs and will always add them to my text messages.
- I am huge football fan and love watching games on Sundays in the fall.
- I hate Amazon and online shopping!
- Being a Camp Director is the best job in the world.
- I am a positive and optimistic person. I believe that the glass is always half full; even in the most trying times.
- I hate ketchup.
- I am afraid of heights and would never hang glide, hot air balloon or sky dive.
- My real hair color is dark brown. (Oh and gray lol!)
- I love to vacation on the Cape; especially in late August.
- Summer is my favorite season. I love the sunshine, flip flops and the beach.
- I hate reptiles and spiders and any animals that drool.
- My entire wardrobe consists of clothes that are either black, grey or navy. I rarely wear bright colors.
- I love Reggae music.
- I hate to be late; I’m always on time or early.
- I love collecting motivational quotes and use them often.
- I would never swim in a public pool or in the ocean. Ewww…..
Rachel Kurland
Early Childhood Director
- My husband (Adam) and three boys (Alex, Danny and Cooper) are my life.
- I’m convinced I got the first Covid puppy (Waffles) and started the trend–March 18th.
- My favorite foods are sushi, plain pasta with butter and parmesan cheese, and Carvel soft chocolate.
- I love to ski, hike, bike, go rock climbing, and have even gone paragliding!
- I love music and dancing.
- I lived in Belgium for two years when I was 10 and was fluent in French. (I may be able to converse with you-it just would take a looooong time)
- I have two older brothers who tortured me.
- I’m a big homebody and love being in a “cocoon” with my family.
- I love to travel, and wish I could visit every single country and learn every language.
- I love to laugh, cook, eat and garden.
- One of my favorite school plays I was in as a child was Free to Be You and Me.
- I used to go horseback riding (I think I’m too old now)
- I have no cavities, never had stitches, or ever broken a bone.
- When I was little I took gymnastics and ballet but still could never do a cartwheel.
- I hate peanut butter and mustard.
- I love the beach.
- I love to read and be curled up on the couch with a book.
- I wish I could be in school forever.
- I think I was meant to work at DKECC and Camp JLand.
Jordan Sakin
Discover Program Director
- I graduated SUNY Oneonta with a degree in History and LIU Hudson with a Master’s degree in Elementary Special Education.
- I am a two time”Wobble” champion on Norwegian Cruise Lines!
- I’ve been to Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift concerts.
- I would like to think I created the beverage Arnold Palmer.
- I am a HUGE New York Mets, New York Jets and Brooklyn Nets fan- although none of them have ever won championships in my lifetime.
- I have a 2 year old Cattledog named Reese.
- My favorite places in the world are Disney World and Citi Field.
- If I could wear basketball shorts 24/7, 365, I would.
- I can never say no to any form of Ice Cream.
- Jersey Shore and Survivor are two of my favorite reality TV shows.
- I met my future wife at camp in Summer 2017!
- If I could have any job in the world, I would want to host a sports radio show on WFAN.
- I teach Elementary Special Education in Bernardsville, NJ.
- I’m a big WWE fan and make all my friends watch with me.
- One day when I’m older I want to install a Soda fountain in my house.
- My favorite place to eat is Sutters Mill in Suffern, NY.
- I love visiting the Jersey Shore and enjoy all the sights, sounds and treats of the beach and boardwalk.
- I have been at camp for 24 summers as a camper or staff.
Brooke Hershfield
Discover Program Director
- I am from Monroe, NY!
- I have 2 human brothers & one doggy brother.
- I have a bachelors in psychology from Binghamton University and a Masters in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Ithaca College.
- My favorite sports teams are the New York Mets & New York Rangers — I’m waiting to see either team win a championship during my lifetime.
- Some of my hobbies are listening to music, hiking with my dog, and reading.
- I was on Taylor Swift’s Instagram once.
- Colorado is my favorite travel destination.
- I love Broadway shows, my favorite is Wicked.
- I am famous for my Cookies & Cream cookies.
- My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving and my favorite side dish is corn pudding.
- I am afraid of heights but would love to go zip lining one day.
- My Hogwarts house is Ravenclaw.
- I love reality TV (I did a research project on The Bachelor in college), but my all time favorite TV show is The Office.
- My favorite movie of all time is The Princess Diaries and Julie Andrews is one of my favorite people.
- I can’t go underwater without holding my nose.
- My favorite fruit are raspberries and my favorite vegetable are carrots.
- I love anything that has to do with s’mores — s’mores flavored ice cream, candles, etc.
- My favorite Disney Princess is Belle.
Lisa Murphy
JCC Rockland Camps Office Manager and Registrar
- I was born and raised in “Da Bronx”.
- My favorite color is blue.
- I have 3 children.
- I love the beach.
- I love watching my son play baseball. (he is on 3 teams).
- I have a Labrador Retrievers named Sophie.
- Sea Loins are my favorite animal.
- I love to go Jet Skiing.
- Diet Coke wakes me up in the morning.
- Spring is my favorite time of year.
- I have never gone to camp.
- I have one sister.
- My favorite show is Shark Tank.
- My family and I love to go on vacation.
- I love ice cream.
- My favorite restaurant is Mt. Fuji.
- I am very organized.
- My weakness is pretzels.
Eric Goldstein
Summer STEM Program Director
- Favorite saying “do what you love and love what you do”.
- Favorite movie quote “Aloha Mr. Hand” and “No shoes no shirt no dice!” Both from the same movie.
- My favorite band Van Halen (R.I.P. Eddie).
- I love to cook … and eat … that usually works out well.
- My favorite season is summer (I was born in July).
- I am a big fan of 90’s Seattle music.
- A Late 60’s convertible Mustang is my favorite car.
- When I retire, I would like to travel and see the great sites of the world.
- I am a dog lover … I have 2 labs Emmy and Tony.
- As a science teacher, I must say science is my favorite school subject.
- I use Chat GPT.
- I like when it’s quiet … As a middle school teacher for 30 years, I enjoy quiet time these days.
- I enjoy working out (What a great gym at the JCC).
- My favorite TV is now the Office.
- I graduated from University of Maryland.
- I have 3 children.
- I enjoy movies about time travel or anything Marvel.
- I love being home with my wife and children.
Kelli Kersh
Coordinator Camper Care and Parent Communications
- I’ve been married to my best friend for 24 years and we have two amazing daughters, Alexandra (21) and Amanda (18). Few things make me happier than chilling with them and my dogs.
- We have three dogs (1 golden retriever, a black mix and Petey) that we are BEYOND obsessed with.
- My favorite color is blue.
- I’m not a fan of yellow, orange, or purple.
- I could eat sushi every day of the week.
- I have never seen the movie “the sound of music” which most people can’t believe.
- When I was younger I could recite the movie Grease, verbatim. And I was in love with Danny zuko.
- Winter is my favorite season. My motto is the colder the better! Oh, and I LOVE snow. I do like summer too, but towards the end, I’m always ready for the cooler weather.
- I love doing jigsaw puzzles, and frequently make my younger daughter do them with me. She’s reluctant at first, but then enjoys it.
- I’ve always wanted a big salad bar in my kitchen. One that I wouldn’t be in charge of maintaining of course.
- I’m a VERY fast drinker and will gladly challenge anyone to a water drinking contest. I don’t think anyone has ever been faster than me.
- Connect four and Tetris are two of my favorite games.
- Watching tv (so many shows) is my relaxation.
- I love being a teacher. I feel lucky that I look forward to getting to work and seeing my kids every morning on the way to work.
- Laughing is one of my favorite things in life. I love the kind of laugh where I can barely breathe.
- I took a one credit bowling class in college and was a REALIY good bowler for like five minutes. I once bowled a double turkey. Never again.
- I have my CDL and can drive a school bus.
- I feel blessed to have many wonderful people in my life, friends and family alike.
Rachel Appell
JTweens and J-Teens Director
- My favorite color is pink.
- I worked in Magic Kingdom for a year and a half!
- I have 2 very nice cats named Sawyer and Riot!
- I am a Pisces!
- I will never turn down ice cream. My favorite flavor is cookies and cream!
- I love roller coasters and rides, but I’m not a big fan of water parks!
- I cannot function without coffee. You can probably see me carrying a cup of coffee around all day every day.
- I am the middle of three sisters.
- My favorite superhero is Spiderman.
- I love Harry Potter. My Hogwarts House is Hufflepuff.
- I work at JCC Rockland full time, but my first job here was as a Discover counselor!
- I have a bachelors in History from SUNY Geneseo.
- My favorite animal is a squirrel.
- My favorite TV shows are Community and Criminal Minds.
- I love live music — especially Taylor Swift concerts!
- My favorite person in the world is my mom!
- I have a collection of over 40 mugs!
- I’ve had my car since I was 19. Her name is Miss Daisy.
Jay Cannici
Camp Facility Manager
- My family is everything to me: My wife Suzi (is my rock, my love, my best friend in the world) my three children Noah, Ben, and Ava (my treasures in life)
- Put me on a fishing boat and I’m happy
- I hate snakes
- I love eating seafood
- I love coaching sports especially Baseball
- Teaching children was my call in life. I’m a high school Special Education Teacher in which I teach Algebra, Geometry, Advanced Algebra/Trig
- I named my dog “Jasper” after the Manhattan College Jaspers where I attended school
- When I win the New York Lottery for millions of dollars, I will donate a large portion to Autism Research
- Long lines at stores, sitting in traffic annoys me
- I’m very superstitious
- I tore my Achilles tendon during a celebration after winning a state sectional state title in baseball #embarassing #longrecovery
- My mother and father are absolutely my heroes in life
- Midnight Run, Goodfellas, and Rounders are my top three favorite movies of all time
- I want to go to Oregon to hunt the mythical legendary beast by the name of Sasquatch
- My favorite teams are: NY Yankees, NY Rangers, NY Knicks, SF 49ers
- Dairy Queen blizzards are my weakness
- I always wanted to be John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever
- When I retire, I want a shore house by the water
Marc Greenbaum
Camps Operations Manager
- There is nothing more important to me then FAMILY.
- My wife, Maria, and I will be celebrating 27 years of marriage in June.
- My proudest accomplishment: Being a DAD! My oldest children, Kyle and Kyra, are
- 24 year old twins and my youngest daughter, Skylar, is 20.
- I am a sports nut!!! I will watch and play any sport imaginable. Late, late, late night TV televises some really off-beat sports. I am a crazy Boston Celtics and New York Yankees fan. What can I say … I like winners!
- I have been zip-lining high in the trees in the Mexican Jungle and then went dune buggy riding on the Jungle floor.
- I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to swim with dolphins — what an incredible experience!
- I have been teaching 5th and 6th grade for over 20 years. I teach in the district where I went to school as a kid.
- Big, big, HUGE fantasy sports fanatic. Baseball, football, basketball … oh my. Love stats and pretending to be a GM (general manager).
- Love any and all animals. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t own at least one dog. Currently have a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and a Yorki-Poo. (Hysterical combo — one is 125 lbs. — the other is 20 lbs.)
- Before I became a teacher I was a Veterinarian Assistant. Very cool experience — I got to assist during surgeries.
- I have been going to Day Camps my entire life. My summers would not be the same without camp. I am extremely excited to be a part of the JCC Rockland Camp family.
- I think I might be addicted to Mt. Dew. I have tried every flavor they have and drink at least one every day. (Code Red, Pitch Black, Dew USA among my favorites)
- I am a big reality TV fan. Nothing beats real life. My daughter, Skylar, and I never miss an episode of Survivor. My oldest daughter, Kyra, has actually applied to get on … no luck yet.
- As a kid — loved, loved, loved roller coasters of all sizes, shapes, twists, and turns. Now, as an adult, I get motion sickness from swinging on a swing.
- When I retire, I want to build a “man-cave” treehouse to watch all my sports andreality TV.
- If I had to choose one meal it would be a perfectly cooked steak with a heaping side of garlic mashed potatoes.
- I am a candy junky — jelly beans, Mike & Ike’s, Chuckles, Skittles. It goes without saying … I have some pretty bad teeth.
Scott Kaplan
Program Director
- I have two sons and a wife who are my world! They are the reason for my existence.
- Coca-Cola is my choice of drink and everyone knows that I have one on me at all times. This gets me through my days.
- I am a huge sports fan with the New York Mets being my favorite team since I was 5 years old. Once a Met fan, always a Met fan.
- Baseball is my favorite sport and I love the intricacies of the decision making of the game!
- I am an incredibly picky eater to a point that I do not eat ice cream!
- My favorite musical artist is Billy Joel and I have seen him in concert a total of 18 times.
- I am a history teacher and I have a passion for teaching about the government.
- If I was not a teacher and worked in camping, I would be a lawyer. The law is fascinating to me as I attended law school prior to going into education.
- I have not found an age that I do not like in raising my two sons.
- Though I look to vacation on any tropical island, I have a major fear of flying!
- My favorite food is french fries.
- I was one of the first callers on the all sports radio station of WFAN calling about what else.. the baseball all-star game!
- I loved to coach my boys in any sport that I participated in including JCC Y basketball and flag football!
- I cannot match my clothes, so my wife picks out my ensemble!
- Up until two years ago, my family and I had a tradition of attending the Thanksgiving Day Balloon inhalation. We use to be able to get very close to the balloons.
- My favorite movies are Draft Day, The Dark Knight, The American President, and Beverly Hills Cop II.
- Except for one three year period, I have driven a Jeep since I acquired my license. I guess you can say I am a creature of habit.
- I love the summer being able to wear a T-shirt and shorts. Winter is not for me though I attended the University of Rochester for my college years where it was freezing!!
Jodi Schiller
Coordinator of Camper Care and Parent Communications
- My husband Daryl and my daughter Ariella are my world.
- I am a big homebody and love snuggling up on the couch watching TV covered in blankets.
- I have a small business of personalization items, creating and crafting is like therapy to me.
- I have popcorn and M&M’s every night..It’s the perfect mix of sweet and salty!
- I have a master’s degree in childhood education and absolutely love teaching.
- I have never had a Reese’s peanut butter cup.
- I love to ski and go on ski vacations with my family.
- I’m a total teeny-bopper (even at my age) My weakness is the Backstreet Boys
- I love photography and taking photos
- My favorite color is pink
- I have been working since I was 14 - my first job was at Cropsy Farms.
- I have lived in Rockland County my whole life, although I did live in upstate NY for college for a few years.
- I am accident prone. I have broken my wrist 3 separate times in the same place.
- I can only drink water if it’s ICE cold
- I have a total sweet tooth (chocolate, candy … you name it!)
- I love reality tv and crime shows.
- I could sit at the beach all day. I just don’t like the process of getting there!
- One day I’d love to have a second home on the water.
Wendee Surgan
JLand Program Director
- I have been married for 23 years to my wonderful husband Andrew and we have two amazing children, Brooke and Hunter, who are in college
- Fall is my favorite season. You will find me in a pair of jeans, a sweater and boots most of the time.
- I love to sit on the couch and watch reality TV. Bravo is my favorite station.
- I enjoy going to the theater and seeing Broadway shows. I cannot pick a favorite because I love them all.
- I love to sing. I do not have a great voice, but I think I do
- I hate working out but love hiking and walking which i started during Covid
- I enjoy going on vacation with my family. Usually a tropical island is our destination.
- I love to host Thanksgiving for my whole family. I’m told I cook an amazing turkey.
- I have a major fear of heights, I cannot be in the outside lane going over a bridge.
- I spent the first 10 years after college in the fashion industry
- I take lots of pictures of family and friends but will very rarely get into them
- My day doesn’t start until I have a cup of coffee
- Rappers Delight is my favorite song. If it’s playing I will stop what I’m doing to sing it.
- I’m not really a sports fan but I am a die hard New York Knicks fan. Go New York, Go New York, Go!
- I cruised across the Atlantic Ocean to England
- I’m not a pet person. My motto is If I wanted another thing to take care of I would of had more children
- My favorite movie is A Star is Born, the one with Barbara Streisand
- My favorite food to eat is sushi
