Meet our Team
Friendly & fun
Every member of our fun, friendly and engaging staff is CPR and first-aid certified, has completed a fingerprint scan and LiveScan, and has completed a camp orientation and training session. Our staff is imbued with a sense of our camp values, and we live those values every day!
Our counselor to camper ratio is 1:8, except in Camp Katan (preschool) cabins where the ratio varies (starting at 1:4 for the youngest campers), following state licensing regulations for the different age groups.
We teach our staff to be heroes who inspire campers!
Emphasis is placed on:
- Orientation and on-going training
- Communication
- Learning how to create community and be a role model for our campers
Many of our staff members have been with Camp Shalom for multiple years, either as campers, counselors, or both.
And camper safety is always our staff’s first priority.
- All staff are certified in CPR and First Aid.
- Campers are constantly supervised.
- Security and emergency procedures are in place and practiced.
- COVID safety protocols are observed.
- Lifeguards are always on duty at the pool, and staff are in the water with campers.
Meet Our Camp Directors
Stephany grew up right here in the community, attending Branham High School and then Cal Poly San Luis Obispo graduating with a degree in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration focusing on Community Services Management. As a lifelong Girl Scout, she began attending summer camp at age 6, then as a Counselor in Training, before spending 6 years working at overnight camp, before transitioning to day camp. Stephany has worked in a variety of municipal recreation and parks departments, as well as non-profit organizations, working for over a decade with youth development and summer camps. In her free time, she enjoys attending local San Jose Giants baseball games and watching San Jose Barracuda hockey.
Annie has been involved with the APJCC’s Camp Shalom since she was a 5-year-old camper! She attended camp for nearly a decade and loved the experience so much that she continued on as a Camp Shalom counselor. Annie has since worn many hats at the APJCC, including Camp Coordinator, Special Needs Director, Preschool Teacher, and is currently the Associate Early Childhood Director at the APJCC Preschool in addition to overseeing Camp Katan, our preschool group. Annie received her National Director Credential from the McCormick Institute for Early Childhood Leadership at National Louis University. Annie’s favorite camp activities are Shabbat, cooking, and art!
Willis is originally from Minnesota. She spent many summers travelling to California each year for summer camp and outdoor education before finally making the move to Northern California in 2013. Willis has worked with various youth development programs, camps and after school programs for the past 17 years. Her favorite parts of camp are Shabbat and GAGA. When not helping to enrich the lives of youth, she can usually be found at various sporting events around the San Jose area, especially baseball and hockey games.
Seasonal Camp Positions
Join our team!
😁 Paid training on the job.
😁 Safe and supportive work environment.
😁 Enjoy a free JCC Membership with Gym & Pool Access during employment.
Current Openings
Summer Camp Positions
Inclusion Counselor – Summer Camp
Year Round Opportunities
Break Camp Counselors
Questions? Email Stephany Ganeles, Camp Shalom Director, at [email protected].
Jewish Silicon Valley
14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos, CA 95032 408.358.3636 | [email protected]
Hours
Monday-Friday: 6:00am-8:00pm
Saturday & Sunday: 7:00am-3:30pm
Jewish Silicon Valley is proud to be a part of the Koret Initiative on Jewish Peoplehood.
