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Staff > Meet Our Directors
Jonah Geller has served as executive director since 2002. Prior to his employment with Tamarack Camps, Geller directed Camp Tel Yehudah, the Young Judaea youth movement’s national leadership camp. With degrees in Journalism, Jewish Studies and Hebrew from the University of Wisconsin, Geller lived in Israel for three years working with youth programs and studying at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
“Camp is the ideal place where children can learn and grow as a community, surrounded by nurturing staff and volunteers in a safe, beautiful setting,” says Geller, after 29 consecutive summers participating or working in the field of informal Jewish education. “It’s where campers and staff learn about themselves, explore their Judaism, and realize the incredible value of a larger Jewish community.”
Jonah is the proud father of three children – Ari, Ezra and Lea.
Lee Trepeck brings tremendous energy and enthusiasm to Tamarack Camps and his position of Director of Camp Maas. Through the years, Lee, who grew up at a summer camp in northern Michigan as a camper and staff member, has played an active role in the Detroit Jewish community, assuming leadership roles on the New Leaders Project, the YAD Executive Board, Israel Missions and the Temple Israel Board of Directors.
Lee holds degrees from the University of Michigan and Case Western Reserve University School of Law and, in business, has experience in law, the restaurant industry, commercial and residential real estate, and real estate website development. Shifting professional gears, Lee is thrilled to pursue his life-long dream and true passion for summer camp, children, and Jewish fulfillment. He offers a fresh perspective and unique vision to the program. “We will work tirelessly to ensure that each child gains positive memories, life-enriching skills and everlasting friendships", says Trepeck.
Lee, his wife Robin, and their two children, Jamie and Andy, live in Huntington Woods. Lee is thrilled to join the Tamarack Camps family.
Chad has always had the mindset of “live to work, not just work to live.” After obtaining a degree in Business from Michigan State University and a few years working professionally, Chad was drawn to the camping field. His passion for education and the natural environment led him to Tamarack’s Outdoor Education program in 2002 where he began his career as a Naturalist. After spending one short season at camp he knew it was the place for him.
Chad’s experiences of both summer camp work and the Outdoor Education program since 2002 provided him with the opportunity of becoming Director of Outdoor Education in February of 2007. He now oversees the year-round operations of Environmental Education, Adventure Challenge, Smoklerville (Pioneer Skills) and the Butzel Conference Center. Chad is also still connected to the agency’s summer programs.
Chad’s priority is to educate the community’s youth in a wonderful camp setting. With a love for the outdoors, a background in business and a commitment to education, Chad views his work at Tamarack not just as a career, but a way of life.
I began my camping career at Tamarack Camps as a camper at Brighton. However, the reason I am who I am is because of my experiences on the Western and Alaska teen travel trips as a camper. I found that the friends I made on these trips were friends that I would have for the rest of my life. I began my career at Tamarack as a TSS, was a tripper, staff at Camp Kennedy, tripping and ropes supervisor and finally an Assistant Director.
Since then, I have spent four years working at the Jewish Community Center in Buffalo, New York, as the Assistant Director at Camp Lakeland and then coordinated the Detroit Teen Mission to Israel.
I hope that all of the teens that participate in programs at Tamarack have life changing experiences like I had. I hope they have the chance to discover who they are, develop their Jewish identity and the opportunity to meet friends for life.
My experiences with The Fresh Air Society/Camp Maas span over the past 12 years. I have had the opportunity to serve as Director and Assistant Director of Camp Maas. I have directed a day Camp on the grounds of Camp Maas, taught Outdoor Education classes, facilitated Adventure Challenge programs, as well as served on the Board of Directors.
As I continue with my efforts to directing agency-wide marketing and recruitment, I am given the wonderful opportunity to share what I love and have experienced at Tamarack Camps. My role is to encourage individuals and groups to spend time at camp throughout the year. In that endeavor, I focus on school groups, corporate groups, community agency staff and boards, family camps, summer programs, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, weddings and more.
Another fact which makes me really proud is that my husband, Mark, and my two sons, Andrew and Ryan, are all Tamarack alumni!
Jason Miller's first summer at camp was at Camp Tamarack in Brighton in 1983. He views Jewish summer camp as a vibrant community where Jewish pride is instilled in campers and staff. "Summer camp experiences have had a profound impact on my development as a Jewish leader," says Rabbi Jason. "Camp truly has the power to shape the future of our people."
In addition to his years at Tamarack, Rabbi Jason also spent several years as a staff member in the Ramah Camping Movement, where he served as a counselor and rabbi-in-residence. He was the director of the high ropes course for three summers at Camp Ramah in Nyack, NY. He maintains our agency's kosher certification and oversees year-round Jewish programming. Rabbi Jason and his wife Elissa are the proud parents of Joshua, Jonah and Talya.
There is nothing like the magic found at camp. Everything you do from celebrating Shabbat, sitting at a campfire, meeting new people, making new friends, learning about yourself, strengthening your Jewish identity, gaining independence and leadership skills are all things that happen at camp.
I have been so fortunate to have called Tamarack Camps my "home " for many years. I was a camper for 8 years and held various staff positions over 15 years; from counselor to supervisor, program director and family camp director. I am thrilled to return as the Director of Family Camping.
I look forward to "sharing the magic" with all of the families that attend our programs.
 I grew up in northern Michigan, where the incredible beauty of the outdoors cultivated in me a deep appreciation for nature. Being one of the very few Jewish individuals so far north, I had to seek out alternative ways of connecting myself with the greater community, which is where Tamarack Camps comes in. Camp provides a great opportunity for self exploration, a chance to physically and emotionally push all personal boundaries, a place to be yourself, truly and unselfconsciously, and most importantly to have fun. Camp Kennedy, its staff and campers, has been my community since I set foot on the grounds several years ago, giving me a strong system of friends and supports. I am excited to welcome returning staff and campers and the new campers joining us this year to the Kennedy experience.
 Nearly nine years after her first fateful 14-hour bus ride along the glistening and beckoning shores of Lake Superior to the beautiful Canadian Wilderness, Amit is thrilled and blessed to begin work as the Director of the Charles N. Agree Outpost Camp. For years, Agree has been her home away from home. Her many years as a Teen Tripper, Canadian Wilderness staff member, Ultimate Agree staff member, Alaska staff member and Teen Tripping Supervisor have instilled in her a deep love for and commitment to Agree. Amit is elated to bring the experience, insight and passion she has developed over those years back to camp! Nine years since she first stood at the edge of the Agree breezeway, looking down on the spectacular view of Kabenung Lake, Amit invites all prospective campers and staff to join her for what will surely be an amazing summer!
A passionate advocate for experiential and outdoor education, Mandy has been with Tamarack Camps since 2005. Mandy’s personal experiential education adventure began as a child growing up in Central America. As a result of the values she developed through exposure to different cultures and education practices, Mandy has made it a priority to educate traditional teachers and students regarding the value of non-traditional education. A certified Project Wild Facilitator/Trainer, American Red Cross Instructor, State of Michigan Hunter Education instructor, and more, Mandy enjoys developing innovative programming that addresses core curriculum while engaging all types of learners.
Regarding her past experiences with Tamarack Camps, Mandy simply says, “From seasonal facilitator to summer co-supervisor to program manager, no matter what position I’ve held within Tamarack Camps, I have always looked forward to coming into work – every single day. That says a lot about Tamarack and its community.” Mandy’s two sons, Lane and Dustan, consistently spend their school year counting down the days until summer camp.
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