Camp

Our Staff And Facility

Staff

Joshua Henkel
Ext. 336
Director of Youth and Camping Services

Joshua Henkel is a full time Youth and Camping Director who has worked at the Mid-Island Y JCC as Camp Director for the past summers. He started out as a CIT at our camp in 1994 and has risen through the ranks over the past 18 years. Throughout his time at the JCC, Josh has served as counselor, supervisor, and assistant director and now directs our day camps at the Henry Kaufmann campgrounds, our travel camps, and CIT programs. His extensive camp experience, ability to improve camp programs, strong communication skills and desire to enrich children’s lives make him an outstanding Camp Director. Josh is someone the parents have grown to rely on to take care of their children each summer and during the school year. He believes that our summer camps provide children with spirited and unique experiences that help them grow, learn, have fun and create friendships that will last a lifetime.

Andrew Paskal
Ext. 336
Junior Day Camp Director

Andrew Paskal joined the Mid-Island Y JCC as a camper and has been an invaluable staff member since 1993. He has held a myriad of positions from swim instructor to camp counselor to Unit Head at the Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds and in 2003, became Junior Day Camp Director. During the school year, Andrew teaches elementary age children in the Plainview-Old Bethpage School District. Campers and counselors alike look forward to spending their summers with Andrew, and his experience, knowledge, and devotion to children, he is an integral part of camp.

Joanna Diamond
Ext. 332
Director of K.I.S.S. Center

Joanna Diamond, MS.Ed, Director, is a New York State Certified teacher with over 15 years experience teaching individuals with autism and related disorders. She received her MS.Ed. in Special Education with a specialization in autism from Long Island University's C.A.S.E. program (Competency in Autism for Special Educators). Joanna has worked in many settings; day camps, private and public schools, providing consultation services for families and school districts, early intervention and early childhood settings. She has received advanced training in Applied Behavior Analysis and has conducted many workshops and trainings on ABA as well as other topics related to autism and special needs. Her clinical interests center on challenging behaviors, effective teaching strategies, adaptive living skills and most importantly the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in social and recreational programs. Joanna has worked at the Mid-Island Y JCC for the past 5 years.

Rhya Jerrold
Ext. 341
Director of Early Childhood Center

Rhya Jerrold, Director: Rhya has a B.A. in Philosophy and Sociology, a J.D. from Touro Law School, an M.S.Ed. in Elementary and Early Childhood Education, and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Policy. Before her tenure as our Early Childhood Director, Rhya previously worked as a nursery school teacher, a private elementary school teacher, and a preschool camp coordinator. Her other prior work experience includes a position as a trainer for daycare workers seeking their credentials, and an attorney editor for a publishing company. Rhya’s combined background of formal education, teaching, and training of others in the daycare field help provide her with a unique perspective and approach to the various aspects of our program.

Ricki Kindler
Ext. 340
Early Childhood Center Assistant Director

Ricki has a Master's in both Childhood Education and Special Education. She has many years experience working with pre-school and nursery children in both the school and camp setting. Ricki's dedication to young children, as well as her experience as a camp administrator, and her business background from before her time as a teacher, gives her the varied expertise which she brings to our Early Childhood program.

Facility

Mid-Island Y JCC in Plainview
Location for Gan T’Camp, K’Ton Ton, Yeladim, Sports Chaverim, High Fours and High Fives

The Early Childhood Center boasts:
• 16 well-equipped rooms
• 5 outside play areas which include a grassy courtyard, sand boxes, climbing equipment, slides, playhouses, and a firm surface for tricycle riding and the use of other wheeled toys.
• Dance room for movement classes
• 3 gymnasium areas with set-ups resembling an indoor playground, an early childhood climbing/crawling space, and a free space for relays, structured games, active play, or even just some hoola-hoop fun!
• Air conditioned buses

Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds
Location for Junior Camp, Camp 56, Sport Rishon, Sports Camp, and CPAC

An expansive, tree-lined 300+ acre property in Wheatley Heights just minutes from the Nassau-Suffolk County border. Our camp boasts:

Air conditioned buses
Newly renovated out door pavilions
Air conditioned nature center
Rock Wall
Baseball fields, soccer field, football field
Basketball and tennis courts
Gaga pits
Volleyball courts
Archery range
2 play grounds
Zip line and low ropes course
4 large swimming pools with waterslide and diving areas
And so much more!

Click here for a list of our camps

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Upcoming Events

Summer Camp Open House - 05.19.2013
Summer Camp Begins - 06.25.2013
Teen Travel Begins - 06.27.2013