The Senior Staff at Crane Lake is beyond excited for you to arrive! Check out this video to get a preview of the new Chadar Ochel while meeting the staff in different areas!

Unit Heads

Molly Hagan, Lower Nitzanim Unit Head
Hello! My name is Molly Hagan. I recently graduated from SUNY Geneseo and I will be a preschool teacher in the fall. I have super crazy curly hair and I like math. This is my 4th summer working at Crane Lake Camp and I loved getting to know everyone and making lasting memories. I can’t wait to meet everyone and see everyone again!

Hannah Boronski, Upper Nitzanim Unit Head
Hi there! I’m Hannah and the Upper Nitzanim Unit Head. It’s my third year at Crane Lake, and for the past two I’ve been a general counselor. I’m entering my final year at Binghamton University, where I study history, education, and anthropology. I just got back from an incredible semester abroad at the University of Haifa in Israel. Whenever I have some free time, I love to go for a run or go horseback riding.

Sarah Loeser, Lower Bonim Unit Head
Hello! My name is Sarah and I will be the Lower Bonim Unit Head this summer! I graduated this May from the University of Vermont with a major in Early Childhood Education. After camp, I will be moving to the Big Apple to begin my first full time job as a preschool teacher in Manhattan! This will be my eighth summer at camp, my fourth summer on staff, and my first summer on senior staff! I can’t wait for the song sessions, Israeli dancing, friendship bracelets, Ga Ga tournaments, canteen, rainy day schedules, camp plays, Maccabia and most importantly watching campers make memories and friends that will last a lifetime!

Janelle Sarnevitz, Upper Bonim Unit Head
Hi my name is Janelle Sarnevitz and I will be the Upper Bonim unit head this summer. I just recently graduated from the Nursing Program at the University of Vermont and I hope to go into pediatric nursing. I am so excited to be back at camp for my 9th summer to watch the sunset over the lake, to see old friends, and to eventually say to the new members, “stranger did you know you’d be a friend of mine?” I enjoy iced coffee and getting lost in the Berkshires as well as working at camp. I love watching all the campers grow and I look forward to seeing all these happy campers on opening day!

Brett Hausler, Lower Chaverim Unit Head
My name is Brett Hausler and I am unbelievably excited for the summer of 2014. I graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Class of 2014, with a degree in Social Thought & Political Economy, and a certificate in Public Policy & Administration. While at UMass, I was an active member in both the on-campus radio station and an education policy and advocacy agency. I was the 2013-2014 fellow for CAMERA (Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America), where I planned events raising awareness of media inaccuracies and wrote articles to inform the student body of the realities in the Middle East. I have been growing up at Crane Lake Camp since 2005 and I am excited to be the Lower Chaverim Unit Head this summer. I look forward to helping build a summer of programming and informal growth where the effects can be felt until opening day of summer 2015. After camp, I will be working full-time for Crane Lake as the new Assistant Director.

Andrew Levine, Upper Chaverim Unit Head
Hi everyone!! My name is Andrew Levine, but you can call me Andy. I will be the Upper Chaverim Unit Head this summer. This will be my 12th summer here at CLC, and my second on senior staff. I graduated from the University at Albany with a degree in European History and Education in 2013. During this past year, I have been working as a substitute teacher in various schools throughout Queens, NY. I am also the Youth Director and a 5th grade religious school teacher at Temple Beth El in Huntington NY. While I love my jobs, I do like to do other things as well. I am an avid sports fan, rooting for the New York Yankees, Jets, and Knicks, and enjoying playing sports with my family and friends. I have been trying to learn Italian in my spare time. I am excited to return back to Crane Lake to meet new people and to help make each campers summer a truly amazing experience.

Beth Karlin, Olim Unit Head
Hey everyone! My name is Beth and I’m from New Rochelle, NY. I graduated from Marist College with a major in Fashion Merchandising and a minor in Business Administration. I love biking, skiing, doodling, and classic rock. This will be my thirteenth summer at camp and my second as a unit head. I can’t wait to be back in the Berkshires and I’m so excited to be able to spend another summer working with the campers and staff of Olim ’14!

Josh Rosenthal, Assistant Machon Director
Hey! My name is Josh Rosenthal, but most people at camp call me Rosie. I graduated from Tulane University about a year ago, and now I work as a Jewish educator. I’m super excited to go back to camp, jump in the lake, and eat in the new dining hall! I can’t wait to reconnect with old friends and help my former campers become the next generation of Crane Lake staff.

Cory Hermann, Machon Director 

Hello All! I am Cory Hermann and I am the Machon Director this summer. I was a camper and staff member back in the 80’s, I have served several years on the Faculty at CLC, and I have been the Machon Director for the past three summers. During the year, I have worked as the Director of Congregational Education at Temple Shalom in Succasunna, NJ. I received my BS in Education at University of Delaware and my Master of Social Work at Adelphi University. I am thrilled to be working with our Machon program again to help train the future staff of CLC. I am also the mom of three boys, all of whom are URJ Crane Lake campers. (The youngest will be in a bunk for the first time this summer!)  Our family moved to Baltimore, MD, after camp last summer and we are looking forward to coming back to our home away from home this summer!

Directors, Coordinators and Leaders

Yaelle Nisinsweig, Program Director
Hello! My name is Yaelle and I am extremely excited to be the Program Director this summer! This May I graduated from Boston University with a Bachelors of Science in Special Education for Severe Disabilities and a minor in Political Science. I am so excited to begin my career working for students and their families. This will be my 15th summer at Crane Lake and I am beyond honored to be involved with making magic of camp! My favorite parts of camp are not necessarily a specific place, but watching campers and counselors go through the same experiences that I went through: representing CLC with pride at tournaments, learning a new tradition, singing their hearts out in fight song, placing a candle on the lake on the last night, and so much more. This summer cannot come soon enough and I can’t wait to see all of your lovely faces!

Stephen Durkee, Assistant Programming Director
I am Stephen, and this will be my fourth summer at Crane Lake. I used to be the hockey coach, but now I am the Assistant Programming Director. I graduated from the University of Vermont this year and I am very excited to return to camp before heading out to find a job in my field of study. I love both playing and watching sports, as well as exploring the outdoors. I hope to introduce some new and exciting idea at Crane Lake this summer.

Betsy Marantz, Special Projects Coordinator
I’m Betsy and, in a turn of events, after being the Camper Care Coordinator for six years, I will be the Special Projects Coordinator this summer! So psyched for my new role, and I am counting the days until summer begins. My kids will be in Upper Nitzanim and Upper Bonim (unbelievable!) and my husband (also the pitcher of the staff softball team) will be on faculty weeks 3 and 4. Can’t wait for Summer 2014!

Ross Glinkenhouse, Outdoor Education Director
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. In 2012, I became an Alumni of Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, completing their Certificate in Jewish Education for Adolescents and Emerging Adults. I am entering my 7th and final year as the Youth Director at Woodlands Community Temple in White Plains, NY. I was excited to announce this year, with the support of my community, that I would be working to take my next step as a professional; exploring opportunities in the field of outdoor experiential education. I care deeply about connecting our kids to the great outdoors, teaching them how to care for our Earth, and how to use what is provided to challenge themselves individually and learn to work in cooperation with others. In my free time, I enjoy rock-climbing in the Gunks located in New Paltz, NY. I am looking forward to my 11th summer in the bubble working to strengthen our children’s ties to the great outdoors and Judaism.

Carol Clopper, Camper Care Coordinator
I am so excited to be joining the Crane Lake Camp family as the Camper Care Coordinator. I live in Huntington, New York where I am a busy mom, wife, and teacher. I love to take pictures and scrapbook, read, and play games with my kids. I look forward to being Camp Mom to all of the incredible campers coming to the CLC bubble!

Jeffrey Schwartz, Head Song Leader
Hi everyone! My name is Jeff Schwartz, though you may find my name at camp has morphed into something like “Jeef.” I’m super excited to be returning to Crane Lake for my ninth summer at CLC and my second as Head Song Leader! I’m especially excited for the new dining hall, because it’s not just for eating: it’s for singing too. I just graduated from Cornell University, where somewhere between being Musical Director of the Class Notes Co-ed A Cappella group, singing in Cornell University Glee Club, teaching music at Temple Beth El, and song leading for the Reform minyan on campus I managed to get a BA in Philosophy & Religious Studies. I’ll see you all soon at CLC!

Katy Copplestone, Ropes Director
Hi my name is Katy Copplestone and this year I will be the Ropes Director at Crane Lake. I am from Liverpool, England and this will be my fourth year at camp. When I am not at camp I study full-time and work as in youth support. With any free time I have I love being outdoors, exploring the British countryside on long walks with my family and friends. This year I aim to make Ropes and camp an enjoyable, exciting and safe place for both campers and staff!

Pam Hausler, Head Nurse
I am so excited about my 10th year at camp. I continue to love to return to the bubble and hear about everybody’s year and see how many kids have changed and grown. It is hard to believe that my daughter Hanna is a counselor; my daughter Kenna will be in Olim and my son Brett is the upper chaverim unit head. Let the summer begin!

CJ Gibson, Athletics Director
Hi CLC! During the year, I am the head baseball coach for a high school in Miami, Florida. I also work with kids with special needs at the high school. I graduated from Voorhees College in Denmark, South Carolina where I also played baseball and obtained my bachelors degree in criminal justice. I love making videos and editing them and one day I’d like to be a wedding videographer! I am excited for camp because I get to see friends who I have not seen for more than nine months but most importantly I get to make a positive impact on the lives of children.

Hilary Winer, Unit Team Leader
Only a few weeks away and our Summer 2014 community will be back in the bubble creating friendships and memories that will last a lifetime! My name is Hilary and this will be my 14th summer at Crane Lake, 1st Year as the Unit Team Leader. I graduated from the University of Lethbridge in 2010 (in Canada) with a B.A. in Kinesiology and currently attending Long Island University in New York studying to receive a B.S. in Sport Science & Masters in Sports Medicine. Throughout the year I was an Resident Assistant and worked with the women’s soccer and softball teams as an athletic training student. I also volunteer with various organizations throughout the New York City area to give back in the community in which I live in. When I am not studying, working, or volunteering, I enjoy playing sports, reading books, listening to music, watching movies, and hanging out with friends. I am honored and excited to be a part of the Crane Lake community this summer and look forward to sharing my passion and camp experiences with all of you.

Lauren Chizner, Limud Director
This will be my 8th summer at CLC. I began on faculty when Jacob, my oldest, was only 8! I have my master’s degree in Jewish Education from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Over the years I have served as Director of Education for Temple Beth-El of Great Neck and the Community Hebrew High School. I have also served as an educational consultant for Long Island congregations through my work at SAJES and then The Jewish Education Project. I grew up at Greene Family Camp in Bruceville, Texas. I am married to Rabbi Todd Chizner, rabbi at Temple Judea of Manhasset, and mother of 3 Crane Lake Campers– Jacob, Jed and Rachel!

Lisa Tenenbaum, Assistant Limud Director
This will be my 15th 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 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 Resnikoff, T’fillah Coordinator and Assistant Limud Director
I am excited to be a part of the Senior Staff of Crane Lake Camp again for summer 2014. During the school year, I am a synagogue educational director and work at Temple Judea in Manhasset, NY. I am the proud mom of 3 Crane Lake campers, and was a URJ camper myself as a child.

Laura Stein, T’filah coordinator and Assistant Limud Director
I’m originally from Scarsdale, New York and graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a degree in Spanish Liturature. I LOVE to travel and learn new languages! So far, I’ve lived in Peru, Iceland, Chile and Israel (3 times!). I just finished my first year as a cantorial student at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem and after camp, I’ll move to New York to continue my cantorial studies. Aside from Jewish music, my passions include musical theater, basketball and being a vegetarian! I am excited to work at camp because I love meeting new people, learning new things, and sharing my passion for Judaism with others! I can’t wait to become a part of the Crane Lake community!

Nino Hernadez, Art Director
Hi! My name is Nino and I am from the Philippine’s. This is my first summer at Crane Lake and I’m very excited to be a part of this community as the art director. At home I am a painter, musician and teacher to young kids. In my free time I enjoy playing Ultimate Frisbee and being outside.

Peter Abrikian (Brick), Drama Director
Hello Crane Lake Camp! My name is Brick and I’m going to be the drama director this year. I cannot wait to meet all of the campers and direct The Little Mermaid during first session. I studied theater at Middlebury College and now I live in Kingston, Jamaica where I teach drama at the American International School of Kingston. I also scrounge for drama jobs in the Jamaican professional theater industry. In the time I have left over I jump of cliffs, hunt for waterfalls and try to spend as much time as possible in the water.

Krissy Chylinski, Lake Director
Hello! I’m Krissy and I am the Lake Director this year! It is my second summer at Crane Lake, and last year I was the Head Lifeguard at the lake. I just graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth with a Music Education degree with a concentration in Jazz Voice. I was recently offered a job in Brockton, Massachusetts as an elementary school music teacher! I love being near the water! I grew up on a lake and could basically swim before I could walk, so even when I’m not working I am always by the water!