Meet the Beber Camp Summer 2025 Community Care Team
Meet the Beber Camp Summer 2025 Community Care Team
I want to thank you for sharing such thoughtful information with us to help prepare for the upcoming summer. The health and wellness of our campers is our number one priority, and the forms you have completed play a crucial role in the care we provide.
I want to introduce the Beber Camp Community Care Team as the summer approaches. These incredible individuals are here for you, ready to answer your questions and help you and your camper gear up for camp.
Health Center
Jennifer Garson - 1st Session Health Center Administrator
This will be Jen’s 6th summer at Beber working in the health center and her first summer as Health Center Administrator. Jen is a physician assistant at Rush University Medical Center Cancer Center in Chicago, where she has worked for the past 18 years with patients who have blood cancers. She is also mom to Beber campers, Miles (15 years old, 7th year camper) and Sylvie (13 years old, 6th year camper), as well as a 3.5-year-old Sheepadoodle, Jeff. When Jen is not traveling with her kids for hockey, lacrosse, and figure skating, she enjoys long runs. Contact Jen at Jen@bebercamp.com.
Alix Hoekzema - 2nd Session Health Center Administrator
This will be Alix’s 5th year supervising the second-session medical team, and her 16th summer at Beber. She has been a camper, counselor, challenge course director, and division leader. Alix has a master’s degree in Speech and Hearing Science and is a speech pathologist, working with children for over 10 years in schools, private practice, and medical settings. She is the mother of three young daughters and is passionate about working with kids and helping them achieve their goals. She is excited to return again this summer! During the second session, you can reach Alix at alix@bebercamp.com. For any medical questions prior to the second session, please email Trudy or Maya.
Maya Levine - Head Nurse
This will be Maya’s 21th summer at camp. Maya was a camper at Beber and has worked for us as a counselor, division leader, and nurse. She has a bachelor’s degree in nursing and is a Registered Nurse, working at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. She is currently working on her Doctorate of Nursing Practice for Pediatric Acute and Primary Care at Johns Hopkins University. Maya reviews all the camper and staff medical forms (health history, physician examination, and immunization records) and communicates that information to our health center staff so that they are able to provide quality care to our campers. She will contact parents as she reviews forms if she has any questions. If you have any information or questions about your child’s medical needs, please contact Maya at maya@bebercamp.com. She’ll be happy to schedule a phone call with you.
Inclusion
Jack Bender – Director of Inclusion
Jack is thrilled to return for his 15th summer at Beber Camp and his 10th summer working with the Inclusion program. A lifelong Beber camper, Jack has always cherished his summers on Lake Beulah. He holds teaching licenses in both Elementary and Special Education and teaches 7th grade Language Arts at a middle school in Fitchburg, WI during the school year. At camp, Jack oversees the Yad B’Yad Inclusion Program, ensuring that campers and assisted staff of all abilities can enjoy a welcoming, inclusive camp experience. Jack can be reached at jack.bender@bebercamp.com.
Jonathan Silver – 2nd Session Inclusion Supervisor
Jonathan’s daughter, Lily, was a rookie camper last summer. This will be Jonathan’s rookie season at Beber himself. His wife, Ashley, was a Beber camper once upon a time and she will also be working at Beber this summer. His younger daughter, Ava, will be in the Gan camp. Jonathan has been in education for nearly two decades. He is currently a Dean of Students at Lake Forest High School in Lake Forest, Il. Jonathan spends every day at work making sure that all students feel safe, welcomed, and included. In his spare time, Jonathan loves to chill with his family, workout, read about presidential history, and waste precious time watching the White Sox and Bears. Jonathan can be reached at jonathan.silver@bebercamp.com.
Camp Clinicians
This summer we have an amazing team of camp clinicians who are here to help our campers, staff, and families. If you would like to be connected with one of our clinicians prior to camp, email Debbie@bebercamp.com.
Michelle Bornstein-1st Session Camp Clinician TLP
Michelle is a former Beber camper returning after many years to work as a camp clinician. During the year, she works as a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice. She attended Northwestern University for undergraduate (Go 'Cats!) and graduate school in Los Angeles. She worked as a psychologist in NYC for several years before returning to her hometown of Louisville, KY. Michelle's passions are traveling to Latin America and learning Spanish. Michelle can be reached at michelle.bornstein@bebercamp.com.
Tessa Kamp - 2nd Session Camp Clinician TLP Israel trip
Tessa is a former Beber camper returning after many years to work as a camp clinician and join the Pios and CITs on their Israel trip. She has a Bachelor's in Psychology and Social Work from Bradley University, a Master’s of Social Work from Loyola University Chicago, and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Throughout her life, Tessa has worked with kids of all ages as a camp counselor, therapist, and 1:1 aide, but her favorite age to work with remains adolescents. During the year Tessa works as a therapist at a therapeutic day school specializing in middle and high school students with more significant social-emotional needs. As a camper, Tessa’s favorite hobbies were jewelry making and improv. When not at work, Tessa enjoys photography, dance, and binging various TV shows. She is so excited to be back with the 3BC community and to journey through Israel with the TLP program. Tessa can be reached at tessa.kamp@bebercamp.com
Frannie Goldwin- Camp Clinician 1st Session (Ramot) and 2nd Session (Kesher)
Frannie is excited to return for her 5th summer as a Camp Clinician. Frannie has a Master of Arts in Social Work from The University of Chicago and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). She is an elementary school social worker and also works in a private therapy practice in the northern suburbs of Chicago. Frannie has experience supporting and empowering children from preschool to high school through various phases of social-emotional development. Outside of work, Frannie enjoys cheering on her two active daughters during soccer, theater, and basketball, laughing and dining out with her energetic, sports-obsessed husband, and volunteering for various community organizations. Her favorite camp hobbies include paddleboarding and resin art jewelry. Frannie can be reached at frannie.goldwin@bebercamp.com.
Alec Hopmayer - 1st Session Camp Clinician (Kesher) and 2nd Session (Ramot)
This is Alec’s second summer at Beber, and he’s thrilled to return as part of the camp clinician team. One of his favorite memories from last year was sitting with campers during GA, swapping stories and hearing about their days.
After several years as a stay-at-home dad, Alec returned to school and is pursuing a Master’s in Social Work at Northeastern Illinois University. Originally from the northern suburbs of Chicago, he earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Denver and spent many years living in Colorado. Eventually, the pull of Chicago’s midwestern vibe—and a good hot dog—brought him back home (though he sometimes questions that decision during winter).
While raising his kids, Alec started a dads’ group focused on intentional and mindful parenting. He has two sports-obsessed kids: one in figure skating and the other in hockey. When he’s not studying or shuttling between ice rinks, Alec enjoys baking, cooking, spending time outdoors, and binge-watching lousy television. He’s looking forward to returning to Beber, hearing what the campers have done since last summer, and stand-up paddle boarding and waterskiing. You can reach Alec at alec@bebercamp.com
Rachel Taylor- Camp Clinician 1st Session (Makor)
Rachel is excited to return for her 2.5th summer as a Camp Clinician. Rachel has a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from The University of Missouri-Columbia and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). She worked at Northwestern University for 15 years specializing in career counseling before starting her own business as a cookie decorator. She is also mom to Beber campers, Bennett (13 years old, 5th year camper) and Reva (10 years old, 3rd year camper), as well as Marty (a very cute 4 year old Havanese). When Rachel is not driving her kids to hockey rinks, she enjoys tennis, mixed martial arts, and volunteering. Her favorite camp hobbies include tennis and mahjong, but she is committed to trying more activities on the waterfront this summer with her Makor campers! Rachel can be reached at rachel@bebercamp.com .
Rachel Losoff- Camp Clinician 2nd Session (Makor)
Rachel is excited to join Beber for her second summer as a Camp Clinician in Kesher. Rachel is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. She has worked as a school psychologist in schools and is currently working as the department chair/faculty of a School Psychology graduate program at The Chicago School. Rachel has experience helping kids with social, behavioral, or academic issues using an ecological and solution-focused approach. She is trained in cognitive behavioral therapy. When Rachel is not working, she is a mom to three kids, all of whom will be at Beber this summer: Elliot (12), Gabe (9), and Penny (7). Her husband is also a psychologist, and he will be visiting on the weekends. Rachel is looking forward to spending time at camp and is especially looking forward to kayaking, ropes course, Israeli dancing, and arts and crafts! Rachel can be reached at rachel.losoff@bebercamp.com.