Meet the Leadership + Staff
Educators, professionals, and mentors
Leadership
Aaron Gurvis, Director
An enthusiastic and experienced Jewish educator, Aaron feels great enthusiasm and appreciation for this camp family. He came to CTN from his role as Assistant Director of URJ Crane Lake Camp, where he oversaw all camp programs, Jewish life and learning, staff training, and much more. He brings special experience in teen engagement and leadership programming, having served as NFTY Northeast Regional Advisor. He has worked with children and teens in numerous educator roles at Temple Beth Shalom in Needham, MA. And he has held summer leadership roles at URJ 6 Points Sci Tech Academy and URJ Eisner Camp and as a Group Leader on Kesher Birthright and NFTY trips in Israel. Aaron holds a Certificate in Jewish Education for Adolescents and Emerging Adults from Hebrew Union College and earned his BA in Linguistics with a Minor in Information Technology from UMass/Amherst.
Amanda Morgan, Associate Director
This is Amanda’s 9th year in the leadership of Tel Noar. Having served as Acting Director in Summer 2022, she is now partnering with and supporting Aaron as he transitions into the leadership role. Amanda previously served as Assistant Director for three years, immersed in all the planning, support, hiring, training, and management to create an excellent camping experience. She was CTN’s Program Director for three years before that.
Passionate about youth development, Amanda is an experienced educator with background as a K-12 synagogue educator, youth director, and high school teacher. Amanda holds a BA from the University of Florida and has attended law school. She says, “Growing up at summer camp taught me so much about friendship, independence, and the value of sleepaway camp for growth and confidence. I am so thrilled to create these kinds of experiences as part of the Camp Tel Noar family!”
Sharon Lasky, Director of Happiness
Our most tenured member of staff, Sharon has nurtured every camper and staffperson for 53 summers. The Sharon Lasky Scholarship Fund honors all that she means to CTN—and her commitment to camp families.
Sharon is a hug when you feel far from home, a wise friend when you want kindness and perspective, the smiling bringer-of-mail, and our unofficial camp historian and storyteller. She’s bubbly, fun, and a wonderful resource for our campers, staff, and community.
Susan Altman Director, Dor L'Dor Israel Programs
Susan is a seasoned nonprofit and Jewish community professional who leads the Dor L’Dor Israel travel experience for our oldest campers. Susan notes, “Giving a young person this close-up experience of Israel truly solidifies a strong Jewish identity before they head off to college and into the rest of their lives.”
Stacey Smalley, M.A.T. Director, Leadership Development + Kadima Teen Leadership
Stacey is the Director of our Kadima Teen Leadership program as well as cultivating leadership throughout our Cohen Camps organization. She holds a BA and MA in Teaching from Union College, with additional certifications in virtual and experiential Jewish education and in social emotional learning and character development.
When you call to enroll or ask questions, you’ll likely speak with Sara first. Sara has joined Tel Noar’s year-round team in 2022. She brings with her a strong background in nonprofit administration and the arts, having worked at the Whitney Museum of Art and MoMA in New York. Sara holds an MA in Art, Education, & Community Practices from New York University and a BFA in Fine Arts from UMass Boston.
Our most tenured member of staff, Sharon has nurtured every camper and staffperson for 52 summers. The Sharon Lasky Scholarship Fund honors all that she means to CTN—and her commitment to camp families.
Sharon is a hug when you feel far from home, a wise friend when you want kindness and perspective, the smiling bringer-of-mail, and our unofficial camp historian and storyteller. She’s bubbly, fun, and a wonderful resource for our campers, staff, and community.
Summer Staff
The team of Tel Noar staff takes its responsibility to nurture and care for our campers very seriously. Each team member works hard to serve as a role model and to make a positive impact each day.
Tel Noar administrative and supervisory personnel are camping professionals and educators with many years of experience working with children. Many Tel Noar counselors were Tel Noar campers themselves, and many of those came through our Dor L’Dor Israel travel capstone program and our Kadima teen leadership training. Some of our counselors come from abroad, including a delegation from Israel, greatly enhancing the camp experience.
We select our staff for their experience, maturity, creativity, and sense of responsibility. Our summer staff attends a week-long Staff Orientation, in addition to individual specialty training to improve teaching skills. Ongoing training continues throughout the summer with seminars and mentoring.
Year-round Administration + Colleagues
The Leadership Team is supported by the staff of The Cohen Camps, the family of three Jewish overnight camps which also includes Camp Tel Noar and Camp Pembroke. The three camps share a year-round office and collaborate on a shared vision, pooling ideas and refining best practices to all of our campers’ great benefit.
Work Here
Would you like to take part in creating incredible summer experiences for staff and campers alike?
