Amanda Collins Camp Habonim Director
Birthplace: Columbia, SC
JCA/Summer Camp Experience: 9th year as a camp director, 2nd year as JCA camp director
Favorite Animal: Dolphins because they’re social, intelligent and emotional
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? The Caribbean
What makes you laugh the most? Miss Jessica because she thinks I’m funny
What would you sing at karaoke night? Hold My Hand- Hootie & the Blowfish
What is your favorite tradition? Summer camp counselor challenges
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Sushi
Jessica Adamic Camp Habonim Staff, Youth Programs
Coordinator Birthplace: Royal Oak, Michigan
JCA/Summer Camp Experience: 5th year of summer camps, first year at the J!
Favorite Animal: Orca
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Grand Cayman
What makes you laugh the most? Ocean Puns
What would you sing at karaoke night? Any duet with Ms. Rachel
What is your favorite tradition? Thanksgiving with my family
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Spaghetti
Georgie Melvin Counselor
Birthplace: Red Bank, New Jersey
JCA/Summer Camp Experience: 4 years
Favorite Animal: Dolphin
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Siesta Key, FL
What makes you laugh the most? The tv show “Impractical Jokers”
What would you sing at karaoke night? Any song by One Direction
What is your favorite tradition? Going to NYC for the holidays every year
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Penne Vodka
Ryan “Coach Mike” May Counselor
Birthplace: California
JCA/Summer Camp Experience: Veteran
Favorite Animal: Jaguar
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? The old west
What makes you laugh the most? Coach Greg’s knock-knock jokes
What would you sing at karaoke night? 21 Questions- 50 Cent
What is your favorite tradition? Color Wars
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? JCA Pasta
Jamie Rosenberg Counselor
Birthplace: Jacksonville, FL
JCA/Summer Camp Experience: 8 months at the JCA
Favorite Animal: Monkey
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Madrid, Spain
What makes you laugh the most? Dogs doing chemistry videos
What would you sing at karaoke night? Vienna- Billy Joel
What is your favorite tradition? Going on a trip with my family every summer
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Sushi
Matthew Cordek Counselor
Birthplace: Jacksonville, FL
JCA/Summer Camp Experience: 2 years
Favorite Animal: Wildebeest
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Jacksonville
What makes you laugh the most? Mr. Dave
What would you sing at karaoke night? Hold the Line- Toto
What is your favorite tradition? Jumping off chairs on New Years
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Wings
Jessie Friedman Counselor
Birthplace: Jacksonville, FL
JCA/Summer Camp Experience: This is my third summer as a Habonim counselor!
Favorite Animal: Dogs
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Australia
What makes you laugh the most? The random things kids say and do
What would you sing at karaoke night? Bohemian Rhapsody- Queen
What is your favorite tradition? Going out to dinner on Friday nights with my family
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Scrambled eggs with peanut butter toast
Greg Gipson Counselor
Birthplace: Jacksonville, FL
JCA/Summer Camp Experience: Been at the JCA since 2014 as an After School Counselor, PE Coach and Camp Counselor
Favorite Animal: Lion
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Dubai
What makes you laugh the most? My brother, Michael
What would you sing at karaoke night? Any song by Tupac
What is your favorite tradition? Watching college football with my friends every Saturday during football season
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Jerk Chicken
Kayla Laffin Counselor
Birthplace: Colorado Springs, Colorado
JCA/Summer Camp Experience: This is my third summer back with the JCA and Camp Habonim!
Favorite Animal: Dogs
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Somewhere in the mountains or Santorini, Greece
What makes you laugh the most? Kung Fu Panda
What would you sing at karaoke night? Ocean Avenue -Yellowcard
What is your favorite tradition? Christmas breakfast with my family and weekly board game nights
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Ramen or Pho
Amir Warren Counselor
Birthplace: Jacksonville, FL
JCA/Summer Camp Experience: 7 years of summer camps but first one at the JCA
Favorite Animal: Sea Turtles
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? North Carolina or Australia
What makes you laugh the most? Tom Segura
What would you sing at karaoke night? Fireproof- One Direction
What is your favorite tradition? Seafood Gumbo for New Years
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Fuji Sushi
Stephanie Weaver Counselor
Birthplace: Gainesville, FL
JCA/Summer Camp Experience: 2 years Habonim, 1 year in Theater
Favorite Animal: Birds (especially chickens, they’re so funny!)
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? New York City!
What makes you laugh the most? One-liners. Think Marvel or Firefly
What would you sing at karaoke night? Wagon Wheel. Can’t beat a classic.
What is your favorite tradition? Baking desserts with my mom for every family get together
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Salad, because it could really be anything
Josh Parker Counselor
Birthplace: Jacksonville, FL
JCA/Summer Camp Experience: 2 years
Favorite Animal: Wolf
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Iceland
What makes you laugh the most? My brother’s jokes
What would you sing at karaoke night? Sam Cooke
What is your favorite tradition? Cheering for the Jaguars every year!
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Sushi
Susana Munera Counselor
Birthplace: Medellin, Colombia
JCA/Summer Camp Experience: 7 years
Favorite Animal: Sea Turtle
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Colombia
What makes you laugh the most? Coach Ryan and his brothers
What would you sing at karaoke night? Hips Don’t Lie- Shakira
What is your favorite tradition? Traditional Colombian food on Sundays
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Traditional Colombian food
Jim Kaiser Bus Driver
Birthplace: Great Bend, Kansas
JCA/Summer Camp Experience: 2nd year bus driver
Favorite Animal: Our Schnoodle (dog)
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Florida, of course! “Living the dream!”
What makes you laugh the most? Some of the things the grandkids say!
What would you sing at karaoke night? American Pie- Don McLean
What is your favorite tradition? Being with family during the holidays
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Pizza
Payton Pittman Counselor
Birthplace: West Palm Beach, FL
JCA/Summer Camp Experience: Three months
Favorite Animal: Stingray
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Washington, D.C.
What makes you laugh the most? Tik Tok
What would you sing at karaoke night? Obsessed- Mariah Carey
What is your favorite tradition? Annual crawfish boil in Louisiana for family
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Crawfish fettuccini
Jake Pearthree Counselor
Birthplace: Jacksonville, FL
JCA/Summer Camp Experience: 5 years
Favorite Animal: Tiger
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? In the now!
What makes you laugh the most? Telling stories with my friends
What would you sing at karaoke night? I Will Survive- Gloria Gaynor
What is your favorite tradition? Traveling on Christmas with immediate family
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Chicken Nuggets
Mary Carmen Fuentes Counselor
Birthplace: Colombia
JCA/Summer Camp Experience: 4 Years
Favorite Animal: Horse
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Costa Rica
What makes you laugh the most? Funny movies
What would you sing at karaoke night? La cucaracha
What is your favorite tradition? Carnival
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Fish with vegetables
Alyssa Price Counselor
Birthplace: Jacksonville, FL
JCA/Summer Camp Experience: Racing on the rope wall
Favorite Animal: Panda
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? By the beach
What makes you laugh the most? Baby panda vines
What would you sing at karaoke night? Bon Jovi
What is your favorite tradition? Pizza & movies every Friday
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Salad, it could be any kind of salad
Zak Shapiro Counselor
Birthplace: Jacksonville, FL
JCA/Summer Camp Experience: I was a camper over 10 years ago, but this will be my first summer as a counselor. I
also work in the JCA Sports & Rec as well as babysitting
Favorite Animal: Zebra
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Washington, DC
What makes you laugh the most? Coach Rio’s flip phone
What would you sing at karaoke night? Juicy- Biggie Smalls
What is your favorite tradition? Home made pizzas on New Years
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Outback Special with fries