YOUTH LEADERSHIP
Counsellors at Camp Gesher are known for their endless energy, passionate mentor-ship and continual drive to create the best environment possible for our campers. When hiring staff, we look for people who personify these qualities – leading by example, having diverse backgrounds and a wide variety of skills and knowledge that can be shared with campers.
Our Israeli counsellors are part of the “ShinShin” program. They are 18 year old emissaries sent by Jewish Agency for Israel to communities around North America to educate youth on Israel and Israeli culture. Our ShinShinim work at Jewish Day Schools in Toronto throughout the year.
Most importantly, our staff share their skills and knowledge with campers. Our goal is for campers to leave the summer with new abilities and the confidence to try new things. From water skiing, basketball and canoeing to music, arts & crafts, we hold our counsellors personally accountable for creating an environment that allows kids of all ages and expertise to thrive.
SUMMER LEADERSHIP 2023
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Hey everyone! In a maybe not-so shocking turn of events.... I am SO excited to announce that I will be your Rosh of kayitz 2023!! I am so lucky that Gesher has been my happy place since 2010 and has given me so many lifelong memories and friends. This upcoming summer I can't wait to give back to Gesher and its community by creating more of the machaneh magic that makes camp so special!!
Over the last four years I have gotten to fulfill varying leadership roles at machaneh such as Madatz Madricha and Rakezet Tiyul, and those experiences have given me so much perspective coming into this summer. Looking forward to another summer of the coolest campers, tzevet, and community around!
Amanda McCarthy
Rosh Machaneh
Hi, Gesher community! My name is Aaron, and I’m the techni for kayitz 2023! My first year at camp was in 2011. My favourite parts of camp are Shabbat dinner and Havdalah. When I started going to camp, I never imagined that I’d be on mazkirut someday. When I’m not obsessing over camp I’m a medical sciences student at Brock university. I’m so excited to be able to be a part of camp this summer and make this the best summer ever!
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Aaron Kizel
Techni
Hi Gesher community!! I am so beyond excited to be able to introduce myself as Chinuch for Kayitz 2023!!! Over the past decade as both chanichol and madrichol, Gesher has been home for me, a teacher, a family. It has exposed me to a community of incredible people and has gifted me a space to learn about the world and grow into the person I am today. I am so ready and so excited to be part of continuing that magic this summer, alongside wonderful tzevet, chanichimot and community.
See you this summer!
Talia Wilk
Chinuch
Hello friends and community!​
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I could not be more excited to come back to Machaneh as our Melavol!! I have been coming to camp since 2010 and being the Melavol has always been a huge goal of mine. I am excited to share things I've learned, to learn more from everyone at Machaneh and to help make this summer amazing!!!
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Can't wait to see you all soon!!!
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Raffi Meyer-Wertman
Melavol
YEAR-ROUND STAFF
You'll find Gesher staff at seminars and Ken events throughout the year, working together with the counsellors to ensure the Gesher community remains meaningful and magical.
Shoshana credits much of her own leadership and Jewish identity development to summers as a camper and counselor in the woods of Northern Arizona, and studying in Israel in high school, University and Graduate School.
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Shoshi brings her years of experience in youth leadership programming as an educator, manager and camp director to Camp Gesher. Shoshi managed day-to-day camp operations of Camp JCA Shalom in Malibu and Camp Daisy and Harry Stein in Arizona. She has worked as an educator with all ages and engaged in experiential learning experiences. Shoshi has also worked with adults as an adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah teacher.
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Shoshi has 3 boys, Jay, Noam (Bogrim 2020) and Yair (Bogrim 2023). Her dogs Loki and Suki occasionally visit camp in the summer.
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"I am committed to creating meaningful programming that will engage your child in the best camp experience possible. I work closely with our leadership to provide for the well being of our campers and staff, and am present during all Summer Camp sessions and year round seminars. I am eager to assist families in any way that they may need"
Shoshana Lipschultz
Director
Shoshi@campgesher.com
Bekah Diamond-Bier
Assistant Director
Bekah@campgesher.com
Bekah started going to camp Gesher when she was 10 years old, and it absolutely changed her life. Going to Gesher is what fostered her love of the Jewish Community, and made her fall in love with working in youth leadership.
As well as working at Camp Gesher, Bekah also worked the summer program MBI, was a madricha at Camp Miriam, and worked at the central leadership office of Habonim Dror North America. The community that she found in this has had a huge impact on her life and been the start of her deepest friendships. She is very excited to help continue the Gesher story of incredible and meaningful relationships!
Bekah loves gardening, experimenting with new recipes, and spending days by the lake.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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The Camp Gesher Board and its committees are comprised of highly dedicated alumni, parents of campers, Madrichim (counsellors) and friends of Gesher who volunteer their time, energy and support.
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