Every Summer our staff nominated their peers for an Arie Award. This award goes to staff members who are outstanding members of the Harlam community. Please read the individual blurbs below about each recipient.
Annie Joseph: Annie stepped into a close knit community filled with people who have been at this camp for years, yet fits in as if she has been here her whole life. This isn’t an accident- Annie puts herself out there by being there for her friends and being able to have both deep and silly conversations. She goes the extra mile for her campers, filling up her bunk’s water bottles with ice and cold water, getting hype for melon at breakfast and encouraging her kids and making them excited. Annie is committed to the magic of camp.
Brent Novey: I have never seen a camper walk away from a convo with Brent and still be upset or not smiling in some capacity. Brent’s inner child comes alive at camp and that just makes him that much better when it comes to relating to the campers. Although Brent came late, he started the job as though he never missed a beat. Brent’s awareness of campers’ needs and ability to manage them is extraordinary. He is an incredible role model and wise beyond his years.
Philip Tepper: Philip is always ensuring that the needs of campers are met and he will be one of the first people to talk with the bunk about how things can be improved or just to give instructions. He safely got a camper back from being lost on the stream hike. It was a harrowing ordeal and he deserves to be publicly acknowledged for those efforts. All summer Philip has been an absolute leader in the bunk.
Shayna Saltzburg: This summer, I’ve seen Shayna step into many roles: cabin counselor, song leader, evening program wiz, staff development leader. Song leading without a guitar is a task that some may call extremely difficult if not impossible, but her presence was commanding enough to hold the attention of all of camp. When asked to give a helping hand, I never heard her say no. When I needed help, she was the first to my side and when the campers wanted anything they knew Shayna would have there back.
Zeke Winitsky: Zeke’s motivation to improve and reflect is through the roof. Zeke is constantly lifting up those around him. Zeke gives great advice and has been a great support system. Despite having such a time consuming role at camp, he spends any off time he has getting to know and hanging out with his kids. This is apparent every time a video he made is played in the chadar and “Zeke Winitsky” chants ring among the tables.
Adam Rothenberg: There were times I genuinely forgot that he was a specialty counselor because of the way he engaged so beautifully with his campers. Adam is an overall positive and energetic role model. Both campers and counselors are drawn to his welcoming and funny personality. Adam makes sure everyone around him is happy and in doing so the attention is not always on him. Adam’s calm demeanor and confidence with his campers gives a sense of security and trust to the highest degree.
Ben Brier: He is so present with the kids and is constantly putting them before all else. He is always willing to go the extra mile to make sure his cos and peers are supported as well. He has done a great job of taking on a leading role in Kineret but also knows when to take a step back and let others lead from the front as he gives them a helping hand. His growth and confidence should be noted and camp is better for having Ben as a leader in the community.
Elie Forster: Elie has done so much to comfort and ensure the mental well-being of her campers in ways unimaginable. Elie has woken up hours before breakfast to comfort campers in times of need and provide insight and relatability to campers through her personal experiences, letting campers in and building trust in unique and unforgettable ways. Elie each and every day no matter what is going on at home or in the kfar village steps up to the plate with a positive attitude and a camper first mindset that is contagious to the rest of the kfar staff. Elie is the glue that holds kfar noar together and I am so thankful to have had her as my co.
Jared “Monkey” Klein: Jared puts his entire being into his job, and he never stops working towards making his campers more comfortable. Monkey cares deeply about each and every one of his campers and always makes time to help, comfort, and support each of them. Jared is an amazing counselor and role model for both his kids and peers. Jared brought a positive attitude to every single activity he participated in and was always able to bring good energy to the unit. There were many points this summer when I would watch and learn from Jared and how he interacted with the kids in different situations.
Lilah Kauff: Lilah consistently went above and beyond in her role this summer as a senior counselor. Lilah always asked what she could do to help, jumped in to help lead evening programs whether or not she had written them, and created strong connections with her campers. Lilah stepped into the role of senior counselor with poise and confidence and she truly deserves recognition for her work. She brings a positive mindset to everything she does and is a friend to everyone around her.
Lumpy Minor: Lumpy stands out as an outstanding counselor because of his selflessness and his maturity. He never raised his voice with the kids and always made them feel heard. He is such an amazing staff member and genuinely makes camp a better place.
Avery Miller: Avery deserves to be recognized because she puts so much effort into making sure her campers get the best experience possible out of Camp Harlam. She calmly handles stressful situations with gentleness and thoughtfulness. She has persevered through a lot of challenges this summer and approached everything with an open mind and positive attitude.
Beyla Richman: Beyla is a valued Teva staff member, bringing experience and positivity to her department, as well as a crucial part of the K’Far staff. Beyla goes above and beyond in so many ways. Whether it’s taking her kids out in the rain to look for newts or playing Rummikub with them, you can tell that she loves her kids and camp. Her relentless energy and open mind is contagious to those around her and uplifts her peers.
Shayna Friedman: First session, Shayna tackled the incredible task of managing 17 campers on her own. She was able to make sure they were all safe, healthy, and having fun, with a smile on her face. At the end of the day, she rarely talked about the challenges she faced this summer. Shayna is an amazing leader and role model. Her dedication to camp and to her campers was a constant inspiration.