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Jason Samuel
What camp do you work for? What type of
camp is it?
Liberty Lake Day Camp, a private day camp
located in Burlington County, New Jersey.
What is your title/position at camp?
Assistant Director
How long have you been working
for camp, both seasonally and full-time?
I have been at Liberty Lake full-time
for the past four years. I have also spent
nine additional years as seasonal staff
at four other camps.
How did you get your start in camping? If
you started off seasonally, how did you
transition into your job as a full-time
camp professional?
I got my start in camping at the New Haven
JCC Day Camp as a CIT, where I became a
certified lifeguard. The next year I went
to work for my old Boy Scout camp as a
sailing instructor. I worked there for
five years and moved my way up, becoming
the Waterfront Director. From there I worked
as a seasonal waterfront director at both
private and non-profit resident camps.
I learned a lot about the camp industry
working at these various camps. I was fascinated
about how the camps operated, both in terms
of the logistics and the programming. After
attending the Tri-State Camping Conference
as a seasonal staff member, I decided that
full-time, professional camping would be
my career. I spent the spring working in
TV, figuring out a way into the professional
side of the industry. After working another
season on the waterfront in 2004, I stayed
at camp in upstate New York re-roofing
cabins, desperately looking for year round
camp employment. A week before I was supposed
to move to Colorado to become a group photographer
at a ski resort, I got an interview with
Liberty Lake through the ACA’s full-time
job list-serve. The rest as they say, is
history.
What is your background in terms of major
in school, degree(s) and school(s) attended,
and if you had another career prior to
camping, what was it?
I went to school at Temple University
in Philadelphia, PA. I graduated Cum Laude
with a communication degree in broadcasting
and film. Following graduation, at that
time, I wanted a career where I could utilize
my education. I worked on several independent
short films, was a broadcast photographer
and the evening editor for News 12 Connecticut,
and owned an events photography business.
What areas do you primarily focus on
in your role (staffing, camper recruiting,
programming, etc.)? Any other skills that
people can feel free to contact you about?
I concentrate on staff recruiting, programming,
logistics, facility management, and purchasing.
In the summer, I am an outside director
managing the program, staff, and aquatic
areas. My background in camping has given
me experience in adventure, backcountry
trips, ropes courses, maintenance, equipment
operation, special event programming, boating,
waterfront operations, and pool management.
What do you like to do in your free
time?
I love outdoor activities. I am a crewmember
on a racing sailboat that competes in the
northern part of the Chesapeake Bay. I
also enjoy rock climbing, mountain biking,
backpacking, kayaking, and skiing.
Where do you live/work and how can people
contact you?
I currently reside in Philadelphia. The
best way to contact me is through e-mail
at Jason@libertylakedaycamp.com.
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