Camp Kinneret Staff 2026
EVAN SCHACHTER, PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Hey Camp Kinneret! My name is Evan Schachter, and I’m thrilled to come back as your Program Director for another BSE! My journey at CKB began in 2012 and after 14 summers I’m thrilled I can still call Kinneret my home. I joined the staff team in 2021 in the Gosh unit, eventually moving to Kochot and becoming the K2 Unit Head in 2024. Now I’m looking forward to coming back as PD for a 2nd summer, ready to make this the best summer yet! At camp you’ll usually find me by the lake bouncing on the water trampoline, relaxing in tubes, biking around, or playing hockey at the plex. When I’m not at camp, I’m studying Sustainability & Environmental Conservation and Management at UBC Okanagan, and spending most of my free time skiing, mountain biking or basically doing anything that gets me outdoors! There truly is no place I love more than CKB, and I’m counting down the days until we’re together again for the BEST SUMMER EVER!
ARI FREEDMAN, ASSISTANT PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Hey Camp Kinneret! My name is Ari and I’m unbelievably excited to be your Assistant Program Director for the summer of 2026! I began my CYJ journey as a camper in 2012 and have spent the last five years of that journey at Camp Kinneret which I now proudly call my home away from home. If not in the cabin area you’re bound to find me swimming and chilling at the Chof or jamming in the music room. Outside of camp I am a student at Queen’s University studying music and math, while counting down the days until I return to Kinneret, the best place in the world. I cannot wait to see you all for the Best Summer Ever!
MATTHEW TESSLER, HEAD OF PROGRAMMING
Hey Camp Kinneret! My name is Matthew “Tessler” Tessler and I’m unbelievably excited to be your Head of Programming this summer! My journey at Kinneret began back in 2015 as a Gosh camper and camp has truly become my home away from home ever since. In 2023, I started as Gib cabin staff, then in 2024 moved to Gosh Katan, before returning to Gib last summer where I had the incredible experience of serving as Assistant Head of Programming. At camp, you can usually find me by the lake, around the cabin area or coming up with the next big unforgettable program. During the year, while dreaming nonstop about being back at camp, I study Accounting at Concordia University. Kinneret is the best place ever, where I have made some of my closest friends and most fond memories! There’s truly no place like CKB and I’m already counting down the days until we’re all back together at camp for the BSE!
SADIE SEATON, HEAD OF PROGRAMMING
My favourite thing about camp? You never know what the day will bring, but as Head of Programming, I promise this summer will be one you won’t want to miss! My CYJ journey began as a camper at Camp Shalom in 2015, and I’ve since attended Camp Solelim, Biluim Canada, and Biluim Israel. This will be my fourth summer at Kinneret, after spending the last three as Gosh Katan cabin staff, Rosh Avodah, and Assistant Head of Programming! Whether it’s running creative programs or screaming my heart out in the chadar there’s no place I’d rather be! During the year, I work with CYJ Toronto, keeping camp going all year long! I’m currently in my third year at York University studying kinesiology and health science with a minor in psychology, and when I’m not at school or camp, you can usually find me running, skiing or traveling. This summer’s got one mission: have the BSE. I’ve got ruach yes I do, I’ve got ruach how ‘bout you!
MATTHEW STOLOW, GIBORIM UNIT HEAD
Hey Camp Kinneret! My name is Matt Stolow and I’m so excited to be your Giborim unit head this summer! I started at Camp Kinneret as a Gib camper in 2014. I spent my first two summers as a Gib cabin staff and was CKB’s Rosh A&C last year. At camp, you can find me at the chof, either making a costume in the A&C or relaxing in a tube on the lake. During the year, while thinking about being back at camp, I study Psychology at the University of Ottawa. Camp truly is my home away from home and I can’t wait to see everyone this summer for the BSE!!!
TALIA PUTERMAN-SALZMAN, GOSH KATAN UNIT HEAD
Hey Camp Kinneret! My name is Talia (or you can call me TPS!) and I’m beyond excited to be your Gosh Katan unit head for summer 2026! My first summer at Kinneret was in 2016 as a Gosh Katan camper and have spent the last two summers as a staff in Kochot. While I’m sad to leave Kochot behind, I can’t wait to be part of Gosh Katan this year and I’m looking forward to making the best memories and having the BSE! At camp, you can usually find me going all out at Shira and Rikud on Shabbat, going on lake swims, or relaxing with a good book on the docks. Outside of camp, I’m in my first year studying Occupational Therapy at McGill University, but I’m counting down the days until we’re all back at the best place on Earth and having the Best Summer Ever!!!
AIDEN ELHARRAR, GOSH GADOL UNIT HEAD
Hey Camp Kinneret!! My name is Aiden Elharrar, and I’m so excited to be your Gosh Gadol Unit Head this summer! My Camp Kinneret journey began all the way back in 2013 as a Gib camper, and after 14 BSEs, I’m ready to make 2026 the best summer yet! In 2023, I started as a Gosh Gadol cabin staff, continued there for another amazing summer, and last year I had the chance to work as a Kochot cabin staff. Around camp, you’ll probably find me playing cards on the Chof, swimming, or boating, basically anywhere near the water! During the year, I study International Management at McGill, and when I’m not in class, you can usually find me in the kitchen baking all sorts of treats and breads from my famous black cocoa cookies to homemade pizzas and challahs. Even during the year, I can never stop thinking about camp and all the friendships and the unforgettable memories waiting to be made. I’m counting down the days until summer, and I can’t wait to see you all at Camp Kinneret 2026 for the BSE!!
MIKAELA MATIAS, KOCHOT UNIT HEAD
Hey Kinneret! My name is Mikaela and I am super excited to be your Kochot unit head this summer! I started as a camper in the CYJ movement in 2014, and first came to CKB as a Biluim camper in 2021. This will be my fourth summer as a Kinneret staff, and second summer as a unit head. My first summer was in Gib, my second summer in Gosh Katan, and last summer as Gosh Katan unit head! At camp you can find me on the docs, in the lake, or listening to some good music. During the year, I’m studying Mechatronics Engineering at Queen’s University, and counting down the days until I’m back at camp! I can’t wait to be back with everyone, at our home away from home, for the BSE!
SOFIA BALLON, LIT UNIT HEAD
Hey Camp Kinneret! My name is Sofia Ballon, and I’m so excited to be your LIT unit head this summer!! My first summer at CKB was in 2016 as a Gosh camper, and this will be my 11th summer at camp and I am so happy to call this place my home! My first two years of staff were in Kochot, and last year was my first year as LIT staff! At camp you can usually find me down by the lake, or dancing at rikud every week!! During the year, I am studying Physics at Western University and dreaming about being back at camp. I can’t wait to see everybody this summer for the BSE!!!!!!!!