Meet the Directors! 2022 Edition

It’s finally here! The 2022 summer season is just around the corner. Our incredible directors and supervisors have moved into their cabins, the full staff team arrives Sunday, the kitchen is fully stocked and we’re ready for campers!

Our team has been working tirelessly to make this a safe and fun summer, and based on last year’s successes, we are hopeful that we can again have a COVID-free season. We can’t wait for Tawonga to become these campers’ home away from home – whether for a few days at A Taste of Camp or a few weeks at our longer sessions.

Read below to find out more about our team of ten directors who together hold an enormous amount of wisdom and experience. Find out why Camp is magical to them and some of their favorite activities that this summer’s campers can look forward to with their bunks.

Aaron Mandel (he/him)

Role
Senior Director

Number of Tawonga Summers
28 (21 staff, 7 camper) 

Favorite Float Activity
Frisbee on the sports field

Favorite Camp Song
“Ripple”

One thing you’re looking forward to campers experiencing this summer
Backpacking trips and day hikes in Yosemite and the surrounding forests!

Ari Ziegler (she/her)

Role
Summertime Assistant Director   

Number of Tawonga Summers
13 (8 staff, 5 camper)

Favorite Float Activity
All things garden!

Favorite Camp Song
“How Could Anyone Ever Tell You”

One thing you’re looking forward to campers experiencing this summer
Campers getting out into Yosemite and learning all about their capabilities in the outdoors.

Ashley Costello (she/her)

Role
Program Director

Number of Tawonga Summers
25 (19 staff, 6 camper)

Favorite Float Activity
The pool – so fun and a great place to cool off on a hot day!

Favorite Camp Song
“Stars in the Sky”

One thing you’re looking forward to campers experiencing this summer
I am so excited for campers to experience the beauty of Tawonga! Not just the land (of course you can’t beat the stunning Sierra mountains), but also the beauty of community, friendship and kids getting to be kids!

Becca Meyer (she/her)

Role
Chief Program Officer and Camp Director

Number of Tawonga Summers
16 on staff 

Favorite Float Activity
Arts & crafts!

Favorite Camp Song
“Stars in the Sky”

One thing you’re looking forward to campers experiencing this summer
Getting silly at talent shows!

During Session 3, Becca will be taking a temporary leave to support a family member; during this time, CEO Jamie Simon will serve as Camp Director.

Josh “Frisco” Goldstein (he/him)

Role
Kitchen Manager

Number of Tawonga Summers
22 (14 staff, 8 camper)

Favorite Float Activity
Basketball!

Favorite Camp Song
“Brown Eyed Girl”

One thing you’re looking forward to campers experiencing this summer
Trying a new food that they either hadn’t tried before or previously liked!

Isabel Burns (they/them)

Role
Summertime Assistant Director and Hiring Coordinator   

Number of Tawonga Summers
9 (6 staff, 3 camper) 

Favorite Float Activity
Music on the back porch of the dining hall

Favorite Camp Song
“Sweet Baby James”

One thing you’re looking forward to campers experiencing this summer
Camper talent shows!

Jamie Simon (she/her)

Role
Chief Executive Officer

Number of Tawonga Summers
28 (22 staff, 6 camper)

Tip for new campers
Listen to Tawonga’s album, Home, to get ready for song sessions at Camp.

Favorite Float Activity
Arts & crafts!

Favorite Camp Song
“Give Yourself to Love”

One thing you’re looking forward to campers experiencing this summer
Song sessions and swimming in the beautiful Tuolumne River!

Kiyomi Gelber (she/her)

Role
Associate Director

Number of Tawonga Summers
13 on staff

Favorite Float Activity
Hanging in the garden!

Favorite Camp Song
“Galileo”

One thing you’re looking forward to campers experiencing this summer
Campers sleeping under the night sky on their backpacking trips and hopefully seeing some shooting stars!

Myla Marks (she/her)  

Role
Senior Director

Number of Tawonga Summers
17 (14 staff, 3 camper) 

Favorite Float Activity
Garden crafting and cooking projects

Favorite Camp Song
“Give Yourself to Love” and any Maya Elise music

One thing you’re looking forward to campers experiencing this summer
Joy! Lightness! And moments of connection with something bigger and grander than themselves.

Sean Keelan (he/him)  

Role
Assistant Director of Teen Programs

Number of Tawonga Summers
2 on staff 

Favorite Float Activity
Getting creative at Arts & Crafts. I love guided projects by A&C specialists and am just as excited to find a table of assorted materials for exploring.

Favorite Camp Song
“The Cat Song”

One thing you’re looking forward to campers experiencing this summer
I am very excited to see our Specialists and Counselors In Training (SCITs) learn and grow their competencies and equally excited for young people in our Teen Leadership Institute (TLI) to deepen their awareness of their positive impact on the Tawonga community.

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Get to know our At-Camp Director team more (and other members of our year-round team) here.

Next week, we’ll be sharing highlights and photos from In-Service staff training! If you aren’t yet subscribed to Tawonga’s blog, you can do so here.