Sarah Lauing: Director of Jewish Life
Hi Crane Lake! I just received my Masters in Jewish Education from Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles. I’m excited to join the Crane Lake family as a Nadiv Educator, a full time position shared between camp and Temple Shaaray Tefila in New York City. Born and raised in Palo Alto, CA, I’m a California girl at heart, but with great love for the East Coast as well. I attended Middlebury College in Vermont and am thrilled to be returning to this part of the country. I’m most looking forward to celebrating Shabbat at camp! When not being a Jewish educator, I can probably be found traveling, eating cheese, or teaching myself how to sew.

Alison Simpson: Lower Camp Team Leader
Hey my name is Alison and I’m going to be the Lower Camp Team Leader this summer! This will be my fifth summer at camp, and I can’t wait for it to start. I have spent all five of my summers at camp in lower camp, both as a staff member and a unit head. This summer I get to spend my time with all of the members of Lower Camp playing sports, doing arts and crafts, jumping on the lake trampoline, laughing, and mentoring and assisting the unit heads. I just accepted a new job for the fall as the Youth Educator at Temple Beth Shalom in Needham, MA, which will allow me to work in formal and informal Jewish education with children ranging in ages from four through eighteen. In my spare time, I am taking a class at Hebrew College, figuring out what my life calling is, completing my transformation into a New Englander, and hating on the Red Sox despite living in Boston. I can’t wait to spend another summer up in the Berkshires with all o f you!

Ross Glinkenhouse: Upper Camp Team Leader
Shalom! I am Ross Glinkenhouse and am a Graduate of Florida Atlantic University, where I received a Bachelor of Arts in Design/Technical Theatre. After University, I was an intern at the Juilliard School, working with their production department in the “Electrics Shop,” but learned that my passion was for Jewish Experiential Education with our youth. My previous summers at the URJ Crane Lake Camp helped affirm this passion. I am about to enter my 5th year as Youth Director at Woodlands Community Temple in White Plains, NY. I care deeply about my job and love to learn and grow, taking any opportunity to broaden my horizons as a Youth Professional. I have been trained as a group leader for Moving Traditions Campaign for Jewish Boys, worked with the URJ to create and implement the 2009 URJ Youth Workers Conference, and  about to be installed as the Vice President at Large on the first Executive Board of RYPA (Reform Youth Professionals’ Association). I am currently a student at Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, in their Certificate in Jewish Education program that is specializing in Adolescence and Emerging Adults. I am looking forward to my 9th summer in the bubble working to strengthen both our Staff and Children’s Jewish Journeys!

Hilary Winer: Program & Athletics Team Leader
Hi to all my past and future Crane Lake family members! This will be my 12th summer back at camp – starting as a camper in Lower Chaverim, Machon in 2005, a general counselor, and then the Athletics Director in 2010, I am now excited and honors to be apart of this community as the Athletics and Programming Team Leader. I graduated from the University of Lethbridge in 2010 (located in Calgary, Alberta Canada) with a B.A. in Kinesiology and currently attending Long Island University in New York studying to receive a Masters in Sports Medicine. Throughout the year, I work at a physical therapy clinic as an exercise specialist and physical therapist assistant. When I am not studying or working I enjoy playing sports, reading books, and listening to music. I am so excited to return to my summer home for the summer 2012 to provide campers and staff an experience and memories that will last a lifetime.

Lauren Spiegel: Lower Nitzanim Unit Head
Hi!! My name is Lauren Spiegel and I’m from Chicago-land area. I recently finished my undergraduate degrees at the University of Missouri, Mizzou. I received a BA in both Psychology and Geography. I will be attending Emerson College (in Boston) this fall to begin my graduate coursework in Communication Management. This will be my first summer working at Crane Lake! I have worked at several other overnight and day camps, but I’m ready for a new experience and awesome summer at Crane Lake! I am definitely looking forward to meeting everyone. I will be the unit head for Lower Nitzanim, which I am absolutely thrilled about 🙂 I have a lot of energy and excitement building up and I cannot wait to join the Crane Lake Staff this summer!

Samm Schwarz: Upper Nitzanim Unit Head
Hey Y’all! My name is Samantha but everyone calls me Samm. I’m originally from Texas and moved to the Hartford area this past August for school! I am currently in school, earning my degree in Geology and Environmental Sciences. My goal is to go into the Environmental Science field because we’ve only got one Earth, right? While this will be my first year at Crane Lake, I am no newbie to URJ camping. I am a veteran of the URJ Greene Family Camp in Bruceville, Texas, with about 14 years under my belt! I am excited to spend the summer meeting new staff and campers and learning how y’all camp in the New England!

Matan Poznansky: Lower Bonim Unit Head
Camp is an amazing experience, and I can’t wait to take part in it again. It is such a warm family, with values that will walk with your children a whole lifetime. I was a counselor in the Bonim and Olim units at Crane Lake Camp last summer. I am enrolled for Fall 2012 at Interdisciplinary College in Herzliya, Israel for the undergraduate program in Government, Diplomacy & Strategy. I served in the Israeli Navy as a staff sergeant in Israel’s missile ship unit. I was chosen as representative in a special army project to encourage youth to enlist in combat army service. I served as a youth instructor for six months, which while that time I was granted high appreciation from high ranked army personals, and had the honor of instructing sometimes hundreds of high school students daily. See you this summer!!

Sophie Golomb: Upper Bonim Unit Head
Hi! My name is Sophie Golomb, I hail from the great borough of Brooklyn, New York and I am absolutely itching to return to camp for my 10th summer! For the past three summers, I have served as a General Counselor, graduating from both the Olim and Cornerstone Fellowships. These experiences have prepared, and revved, me up for my first position on Senior Staff as the Upper Bonim Unit Head for the summer of 2012. I love Crane Lake and truly believe my experience with the URJ and URJ camps has shaped me as a person and I cannot wait to have a pivotal role in creating that same feeling for the Upper Bonim campers this summer! When not at Crane Lake, I am a student at Brandeis University where I will be graduating next spring with a degree in Anthropology and Studio Art. At Brandeis, I spend most of my time singing in an a cappella group and working in the Admissions office as a Tour Guide and Senior Interviewer. This past semester I was studying abroad in India. In my spare time, I can be found baking variously themed cupcakes, playing my ukulele, listening to music or reading…sometimes, all at once! Just kidding…that’s impossible. See you in June!

Sam Lundeen: Lower Chaverim Unit Head
Hi! I’m Sam and I will be the Lower Chaverim Unit Head this summer! I’m from Boston, but I go to school in Ohio, studying anthropology and environmental studies at the College of Wooster. I love dancing and spending every minute outside, and am excited to spend another summer at my home away from home. This is my eleventh year at camp and each summer it gets better and better. I’m pumped for the summer and cannot wait to play around all day in Chaverim!

Madeline Brumberg: Upper Chaverim Unit Head
I’m going to be a senior at the University of New Haven where I’m majoring in business management and minoring in marketing. I love crafting, cooking, and playing ukulele! I’m from Long Island and I’ve been living in Connecticut for the past few years while at school but I will always consider camp to be my second home! This is my eleventh summer at Crane Lake and my fourth summer on staff. I can’t wait to spend my first summer on senior staff with the amazing campers of Upper Chaverim!

Sylvia Murray: Olim Unit Head
Hello! My name is Sylvia and I will be the Olim Unit Head this summer! I live in Baltimore, MD and recently graduated from Goucher College with a degree in Peace Studies. After a wonderful summer at camp I will be moving to Cambodia to teach English and work for Sarus Exchange Program building peaceful relationships and mutual understanding between Cambodian and Vietnamese university students. Before this wild adventure begins, I am super excited to spend my summer tucked away in the Berkshires with people I love. I look forward to all the fun and silly times ahead, and to hang out with some of the coolest kids out there. Get ready, Olim 2012, we’re about to get crazy!

Cory Hermann: Machon Director
Hi All! I am so thrilled to be returning as the Machon Director this summer! URJ Crane Lake Camp is a second home for me and my family. Jake (EJ) and Zach will be back this summer in Bonim and Nitzanim, and Jonah will attend Eisner Day Camp. My husband Barak will also do a workshop or two with Machon! During the year, we live in Randolph, NJ and I work as the Director of Congregational Education at Temple Shalom in Succasunna, NJ. I attended University of Delaware for my BS in Education, and Adelphi University for my MSW. More importantly, I was a Color War General at CLC in the summer of 1986, and I love Fight Song Night!! I am looking forward to welcoming you all home to Crane Lake soon!

Meika Freeman: Assistant Machon Director
Hello All! My name is Meika Freeman, and I will be the Assistant Machon Director this summer. I am currently a Senior at the University of Connecticut majoring in History and Human Rights. This will be my tenth summer at camp, and fun fact, I’ve spent every birthday at Crane Lake (except the summer I went to Israel) since I was nine! I am especially excited for this summer because I will be in an entirely new position both as Senior Staff and the Assistant Machon Director. I can’t wait!

Pam Hausler: Head Nurse
I have worked at Crane Lake Camp for 8 years. I love it here. It’s the second home for my family. I have three children… Brett, who is a counselor and songleader,  Hanna who will be in Israel this summer with camp and Kenna who is in Lower Chaverim this year. Our family lives in Vermont. Some of the campers affectionately call us the Cowslers. During the school year, I am an elementary school nurse in New Hampshire. Prior to that, I worked in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and I was a Pediatric Case Manager at DHMC. I am very active in my synagogue. I have been a teacher at the temple Hebrew school for the past twenty years and have taught all ages. I also am a service lay leader and Youth Group advisor. My favorite part of camp is seeing the campers grow up and spending time with them. I love being part of t’filah each day and on Shabbat. T’filah rocks!! I look forward to opening day so I can see all my old friends and meet new ones. Go Crane Lake 2012!

Joie Golomb: Program Director
Hi! My name is Joie Golomb and I am so excited to be returning for my 8th summer at CLC. As a staff member, I have served as a General Counselor and in more recent summers, the Director of the Drama Department. I am thrilled to be taking on my new role as Programming Director. During the year, I am the Assistant Director of Education for Brooklyn Arts Exchange/BAX, a community cultural arts center in Park Slope, Brooklyn. In that role, I administrate programming for students ages 18 months-18 years. I liaise with public and private schools in the area to form arts-in- education partnerships as well as act as a faculty member teaching dance and theatre to various ages. I graduated with a Teaching and Theatre Education degree from Emerson College in 2009 and have taught and inspired numerous young people in theatre arts and creative expression ever since. For fun, I enjoy cooking, playing the guitar and piano, singing, dancing and hoola hooping. Camp has been a huge part of my life not only for the friendships I’ve made but because of the unique experiences I’ve had both as a camper and staff member. I am looking forward to developing meaningful, engaging and most importantly fun programming for the campers this summer; enhancing what is already wonderful about Crane Lake and creating innovative and memorable experiences for them as well.

Nick Peacock-Smith: Athletics Director
Hi. I’m Nick Peacock-Smith and I will be the Athletics Director this summer. I am excited to be returning for my 3rd summer at Crane Lake Camp. Previously I have worked as a Basketball Specialist in 2009 and the Assistant Athletics Director in 2010. I am originally from Australia where I studied Management at the University of Sydney and also worked in the hospitality industry for over 10 years. Since 2008 I have lived in North America working for ski resorts in Canada. Earlier this year I took a position at the William J. Clinton Foundation in New York City, specifically in Corporate Relations for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. I have played or coached in a variety of sports since I was 6 years old, I am an avid snowboarder and also enjoy swimming, travelling, cooking and reading.

Adina Safran: Aquatics Director
Hey! My name is Adina and this will be my 12th summer at Crane Lake Camp. I started out as a camper in 2000 and have worked as a general counselor, lifeguard, and as part of the programming team over the years. Last summer I was the lake director and I am excited to supervise both the lake and the pool as the Aquatics Director for the summer of 2012. During the year I work with young adults with special needs as well as coach a local swim team. I live on long island and am currently pursing my Masters at St. Johns University in Queens for Early Childhood Education and Teaching Students with Disabilities. In my free time I enjoy playing volleyball and soccer as well as traveling.

Rebecca Schwartz: Songleading Director
My name is Rebecca Schwartz, and I’m entering my 8th summer as CLC’s Songleading Director. During the rest of the year, I’m the Cantorial Soloist and Music Director at Congregation Kol Ami in Elkins Park, PA (near Philadelphia). I’m also an award-winning songwriter and have released 4 albums (and all are on iTunes!!). Both my sons attended Crane Lake and are currently staff members. I’m excited to once again be spending the summer with my own family and my extended camp family, and can’t wait to sing with you!!

Sharon Kaufman: Assistant Program Director
My name is Sharon Kaufman and I will be one of the Assistant Program Directors this summer. This will be my 11th summer in the bubble, and my second in this position. Outside of camp, I am a graduate student at SUNY New Paltz. I just finished my first year of classes, and I will be student teaching in a middle school and a high school in the New Paltz area in the fall. I’m looking forward to meeting all the campers and helping to ensure that they all have fantastic summers. Crane Lake is my second home, and I am looking forward to coming home again.

Eden Banarie: Assistant Program Director
I was born and raised in southern California, and currently live in Los Angeles. I was never able to attend summer camp as a child, but when I turned 18 working at a summer camp was at the top of my to-do list. I’ve now been a part of three different camp communities, and have realized that Jewish camping is truly my life’s passion!! Right now I’m pursuing an MBA in Nonprofit Management at American Jewish University (where I also received my BA in Business), and after I graduate in 2013 I’ll be looking to enter the camping world full-time. I’m extremely involved in the Los Angeles Jewish community, including Limmd LA, Moishe House, and staffing retreats for a variety of different youth camps and organizations. This summer will be my first time working outside California, and I’m excited for my camping experience to go bi-coastal! I’m SO looking forward to meeting incredible people at Crane Lake this summer, and putting my skills and experience to work on the program team, working to create transformational experiences for all of our campers and staff!!!

Betsy Marantz: Camper Care Coordinator
I am returning for my 5th summer at Crane Lake Camp as Camper Care Coordinator, aka “Camp Mom”. I grew up going to camp, was active in NFTY-MAR and my synagogue, and served as counselor, senior staff and faculty at several of our sister URJ camps at different times. I have been a professional Jewish educator for almost 15 years, serving in almost every Jewish setting imaginable: congregations, camps, museums, day and religious schools, JCC, and youth groups. I have always been passionate about camping and love that I am able to spend my summers “in the bubble”, being with such an amazing group of campers and staff, who teach me something new regularly! My most gratifying camp moment was when my son told me that he was proud that his mom was “two moms”, his and Crane Lake’s. I am certified by the North American Association of Temple Educators as a RJE (Reform Jewish Educator) and received a Joint Masters Degree in Jewish Education and Jewish Communal Service from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and a BA with Honors in Religion from Dartmouth College. I live in South Glastonbury, CT with my husband, a CLC faculty member, and two children, who are both campers at Crane Lake.

Wendy Brumberg: Logistics Coordinator
I come from Oceanside Long Island. I have been working with children for over 20 years. I have worked at Crane Lake for the past 12 years. I’ve worked with the animals and now spend my time helping people and things move.I enjoy being at camp with the staff and campers and look forward to helping them in anyway I can.

Shachar Yogev: Outdoor Adventure Director
HI! I’m Shachar Yogev and I have been living in Jerusalem my whole life. I finished high school at 2008 majoring in geography and music and went to the army in 2008 and joined the “Nachal” infantry brigade and was trained as a fighter, commander, medic, sharpshooter and radio operator. I finished my service at the 450 battalion which is a class commander training base. Recently I’ve been working as the project manager at “Effect musical instruments” LTD which is our family business. I have been playing electric guitar since the age of 11 and now I’m playing Flamenco guitar. I really like traveling around the world learning different cultures, languages and meeting new people, playing the guitar and drums, swimming and running. This will be my second summer at camp and I’m REALLY excited to come back! It will be a great summer!!!

Lisa Tenenbaum: Limud Director / Rosh Mishlachat (Head of Israeli Delegation)
This will be my 13th year at camp. During the year, I work as the Hebrew teacher at the Ben Gamla Charter school in Palm Beach, and as the Confirmation teacher and B’nai Mitzvah tutor at Temple Shaarei Shalom. My favorite part of camp is being part of an such a special community. I love our daily tefillah, hearing all of our voices singing together as we welcome the day. Friday Night song and dance session is another of my favorites! I enjoy participating, but I also like to stand back and watch all of the staff and campers celebrating together. But, the best part of camp is being able to share the lives of so many campers and staff, and to watch them grow and mature into successful young Jewish adults.

Lauren Chizner: Limud Director
Although this is my first summer spending the entire summer on the staff at CLC, this is my 6th summer as a member of the CLC community. I have been a Jewish educator for the past 15 years, working as Director of Education at Temple Beth-El of Great Neck, Director of the Community Hebrew High School, and as an Educational Consultant for The Jewish Education Project (nee SAJES). I have been on the board and operations team for NATE (National Association of Temple Educators) for the past 6 years or so. I received my Joint Masters Degree in Jewish Education and Jewish Communal Service from HUC-JIR. I am excited to be at camp with my children, Jacob, Jed and Rachel and my husband, Rabbi Todd Chizner, who will be on Faculty!

Jason Bogdan: Drama Director
Jason is a new addition to the Crane Lake Team and is excited for his very first summer at CLC. He is elated to be working with the drama program and has always had an excitement for theater and love working with kids. Jason is a recent graduate of New York University with a degree in theater education. He has spent time teaching in schools within New York and is looking forward to being in the Berkshires this summer, a change from New York City life!

Hywel Longman: Gymnastics Director
I am currently studying towards a degree in Physics in Aberystwyth University.I am a keen sports person and Co-Captain of a Rugby Team in the University. I am a fluent Welsh Speaker. This will be my 3rd year at Crane Lake Camp, and I cannot wait to get back there so I can see all of my friends, make some new ones and to inspire as many people as possible about Gymnastics.