It Has Been an Eventful Week at GFC!

Last weekend, we welcomed 32 families from Texas and Oklahoma to camp for our first retreat since February 2020. Our Family Getaway participants braved the cold and misty weather to experience the warmth and welcome of camp. We sang with Alan Goodis, our first in-person artist of the Fisher Family Musician-in-Residence series. We played on a mobile ninja course and jumped in bounce houses. We played basketball and ping pong, crafted, got silly with counselors, made new friends, sang around an indoor “campfire,” and more. It was wonderful to be at camp together!

This week, I am thrilled to welcome Assistant Directors Morgan Ducar and Shira Karp, and Assistant Director, Family Retreats and Staff Engagement, Rachel Kohnhorst, to the GFC year-round team! They have already jumped in to their new positions. Read their bios below.

As we enter into Shabbat this week, I am filled with hope and joy for all that the future holds. Please join me in welcoming Kachel, Morgan, and Shira.

-Rabbi Erin

Kachel is our Assistant Director, Family Retreats and Staff Engagement. During the year, she is based out of Dallas, even though she is a Houston girl at heart.

For the past four years, Kachel has been a Texas public school teacher and looks forward to bringing her expertise in education to staff week at camp. Before joining the GFC Full-time Team, Kachel spent 7 years on Greene’s summer team as a counselor, unit head and staff engagement coordinator. Kachel loves the fun and friends of camp and can be found hanging out at the lake when she has time.

Kachel has a bachelor’s degree in English from The University of North Texas and can’t wait to use it to speak with you about sending your child to camp or to speak with you about staffing camp! 

Send Kachel a welcome note at rkohnhorst@urj.org.

Shira Karp is an Assistant Director at URJ Greene Family Camp. Shira resides in Dallas, TX and is a member of Temple Emanu-El. Shira graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Special Education from Nova Southeastern University in May 2021. She is currently in the process of earning her Master’s degree in Special Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis. Prior to camp, Shira worked for Behavior Analysis Inc. as a Registered Behavior Therapist and most recently as a consultant for her sorority, Sigma Delta Tau, where she has been able to travel and network with several different regions around the country.
 
Before becoming full time staff, Shira spent 14 summers at Greene Family Camp as a camper and staff member. Most recently, she was a camp care specialist where she worked with the Kohanim and Shoftim units. Shira has always loved the community feeling that camp gives her and she cannot wait to be able to help form a community for future campers.

Send Shira a welcome note at skarp@urj.org.

Morgan Ducar is an Assistant Director at URJ Greene Family Camp. Raised in Denton, Texas, Morgan began working with Jewish youth as a Religious School Teacher at her home congregation, Congregation Kol Ami located in Flower Mound, Texas. Throughout her time in college, Morgan played an active part in Hillel as both a board member and service leader. In December of 2021, Morgan graduated cum laude from the University of North Texas with a degree in Religious Studies and Jewish and Israel Studies. Before working for the full-time team, Morgan worked with Temple Shalom in Dallas as the Youth Programming and Camp Partnership Intern, where she developed and led programs with the focus on engaging families and introducing them to camp. 

Morgan has been part of the GFC community since 2014, both as a camper and a staff member. In the Summer of 2021, Morgan had the privilege of being the Shoftim Unit Head, where she oversaw both campers and counselors throughout their summer experiences. Morgan’s favorite places on camp are wherever the singing is! Morgan fell in love with the communal singing culture at GFC and loves to share her passion of communal music moments with others.

Send Morgan a welcome note at mducar@urj.org.