In its 58 year history,
Camp Massad of Manitoba has been a second home to thousands of children and
young adults. Now, two of these young adults are proving that, contrary to
popular belief, you can indeed go home again.
Danial Sprintz, who last
worked at Massad in 2003, has just been hired as the camp’s new executive
director and on-site Abba. Samara Carroll, who last worked at Massad in 2009,
has just been hired as the camp’s new program
director.
Working together, Danial and Samara are determined to
make the summer of 2011 the best ever at Camp Massad.
In the seven
years since Danial, 31, was assistant program director at Massad, he has
worked almost exclusively in Jewish communities and with Jewish youth. In
Winnipeg, he served as the Regional Director of the B’nai Brith Youth
Organization for four years, and as the Director of Jewish Campus Life
JSA/Hillel. More recently, he spent two years in Victoria, British Columbia
serving as the executive director at Congregation Emanu-El. In that capacity
Danial, who is a graduate of the University of Winnipeg, created youth
programming and leadership activities, spearheaded fundraising, developed
extensive community partnerships and membership initiatives, and streamlined
administrative procedures.
As Camp Massad’s executive director, Danial
will take on many of these same administrative tasks, raising awareness about
Massad locally and beyond, networking with alumni, and working closely with the
board of directors to plan fundraisers and start preparing for Massad’s upcoming
60th anniversary celebrations. In the summer he will move his office out to
Massad’s Winnipeg Beach site, where he will ensure the smooth running of all
camp operations
.
“I am excited to be back at camp because now it is my
opportunity to give back to the place that made me who I am today,” Danial says.
“Massad gave me the appropriate leadership training that lead to my employment
with a variety of other Jewish organizations including BBYO, USY , JSA/Hillel
and Congregation Emanu-El.”
“Since I left Massad in 2003 I have yearned
to return to the camp,” he adds. “I’m excited to speak Hebrew and to get to know
a new generation of Jewish youth. For me another Massadless summer is
unthinkable!”
Camp Massad also has been instrumental in making Samara
Carroll who she is today. Samara, 23, spent 15 summers at Massad as a
camper, counselor, hanhallah member and assistant director, and has made great
use of the skills, training and programming ideas she acquired there. Samara
recently worked at the Alexander Muss High school in Israel as a program
coordinator for overseas students, and is currently employed in Toronto as
a synagogue youth leader, Hebrew tutor and Jewish pre-school
teacher. She is also a volunteer with Ve’Ahavata and the Steven Lewis
Foundation, a Master’s degree graduate from York University and an alumna of the
Rothberg International School at the Hebrew University of
Jerusalem.
“I spent every summer of my youth at Camp Massad and I
can't wait to return as the Program Director,” Samara says. “I am committed to
ensuring that this summer be the best it has ever been and to making sure that
every single camper has the time of their lives. With an incredible, devoted
staff, Hanhallah and executive director, I am confident that this will
happen.”
Samara has already started planning her summer
programming, while Danial will officially assume his executive director duties
in the Camp Massad office on January 1, just as registration for the upcoming
summer begins. Both Danial and Samara are thrilled to be working for Massad,
well aware that, just as it advertises, it truly is unique among Jewish summer
camps. This is partly due to the fact that it is likely the only remaining
Hebrew immersion camp in North America, but also because its amazing interactive
programs, tremendous ruach, and genuine sense of community and family are
unmatched anywhere else.
For further information about Camp Massad visit
www.campmassad.ca or email info@campmassad.ca .
All campers registered by February 14, 2011 are eligible for an early bird discount.