At J-Camp our staff are enthusiastic, energetic and caring role models for our camp community! We pride ourselves on hiring and training incredible staff to lead an amazing camp program; provide excellent care for each individual child; and facilitate an incredible group dynamic that builds community and helps campers grow and learn together. Read below to get to know some of our awesome camp staff and stay tuned for more role models to be added to our team as we approach the summer.
"Our daughter adored her counselors from J-Camp and the fun environment it provided her.
Exceptional place for kids to be kids with a great staff!
~ Allon, J-Camp Parent
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Sachiko Martinez—Department Coordinator
Sachi has been a part of the J-Camp team since summer 2015. She started camp as the Art Specialist creating fun arts and crafts projects for campers. You can now find her in the camp office as the Department Coordinator, connecting with all our camp families. This will be her tenth summer with J-Camp. In her free time, she enjoys crafting and reading, but most of all being a mom to her two daughters, Kayden and Karter.
Yael Palti-Yahav—Tayasim Program Leader
This is Yael's seventh year leading the Tayasim summer camp. She has vast experience teaching and educating both in Israel and the US. Yael is passionate about educating J-Camp's next generation and impacting their learning through new and inspiring methods of education. She holds a BA in education and cinema with a Teaching Certificate, and is currently pursuing her Master of Art in Teaching Hebrew as a Second Language at Middlebury College. Yael likes to hike with her husband and four kids in our exciting state.
Arabelle Pierre-Louis
Arabelle joined Club J at the OFJCC in 2022. Since she was 14 years old, Arabelle has enjoyed working with children in after-school settings, allowing herself to gain valuable insight. Since joining the OFJCC, Arabelle has embraced the opportunity to work alongside her peers to build a sense of community that creatively brings positive change. She looks forward to continuing her journey at J-Camp. As a New York native who recently moved to the Bay Area, Arabelle loves trying different ethnic foods. She also loves a good book and art during her free time.
Ashleigh Parker
Ashleigh started as a teacher with the Club J program in 2018 and as a counselor with J-Camp the following year. She has several years of experience working with children from various school programs around the Bay Area. Ashleigh is currently attending San Jose State University in pursuit of her bachelor's degree and teaching credential. Her favorite camp activity is making lanyards.
Christina Ivey
Christina started at Club J in 2022 and has worked two summers at J-Camp. She currently attends Cal State East Bay pursuing a bachelor's degree in psychology. She loves to read books, draw and spend time with family and friends. Christina is very passionate about working with kids and is looking forward to the summer!
Fabio Munoz
Fabio joined the Club J afterschool program and J-Camp team two years ago. He is currently attending Cañada College majoring in business and minoring in psychology. In his free time, he loves to practice video editing and use his longboard to cruise around. His favorite camp activity is making s'mores.
Jared Searl
Born in Cleveland, Ohio but raised right across the bridge in Fremont, Jared has been moving into a career in education since 2018. He joined the Club J Afterschool Program in 2022 as a teacher. Prior to that, he was an Enrichment Teacher for Sarah's Science and worked with children on the spectrum in their homes or around the local PAUSD schools. His love of science and helping people learn motivated him to leave his Tesla factory job in 2018. Jared hopes to graduate with his degree in teaching biology as well as find work in local schools.
Jeremy Erman
A childhood filled with books, music, theater and summer camps led Jeremy to a degree in music composition and years working as a pianist and music director for theaters and schools across the Bay Area. Jeremy is especially excited to be on the JCC team since it was while attending JCC daycare in second and third grade that he discovered he was really good at reading and took his first piano lessons.
Joan Huang
Joan joined the Club J team in 2022 and looks forward to her future with the OFJCC while she furthers her education nearby. She anticipates working many camps and meeting many amazing people. This opportunity has influenced her to choose pediatric nursing as her future career. During her free time, Joan loves trying new things such as riding ATVs, cliff jumping and taking fitness classes such as SoulCycle and Pilates. She enjoys studying in coffee ships and taking nature hikes.
Josh Pu
Josh has been a part of the J-Camp team since 2012 working with various camps and sharing his many talents. He is also a Club J teacher and teaches many electives such as dance, magic and singing. He is the ultimate entertainer and loves to put on amazing shows as well as discover and help develop new talents.
Max Weisbarth
This will be Max's third summer with J Camp, and he has had a blast so far working mini camps during the school year. He has also been a teacher the past few years with the Club J afterschool program. In his free time, Max enjoys acting and making films. He loves to help the kids express their creative sides and his favorite camp activity is making s'mores!
Sonya Gayinskiy
Sonya joined the Youth and Teens team at the OFJCC in the summer of 2022. She graduated with a degree in graphic design from CSU Chico in December 2021. There, she worked in leadership with Chico Hillel as President, VP of Marketing, and Member Engagement Intern. She now leads art-based Chugim as a teacher at Club J.
Sonya lives in Mountain View with her fiancé Kiril, cat Gambo and leopard gecko Lana Del Rey. In her downtime, she enjoys scrapbooking, crocheting, thrift shopping, riding her bike with her partner, and playing video games like Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley. Sonya speaks Russian and is always happy to speak with and learn from other Russian-speaking campers and Club J kids.
Stephanie Torres
Stephanie began working for Club J in August of 2021; this will be her third summer with J-Camp. Before coming onboard at the OFJCC, she worked with the City of Mountain View for seven years as an After School Recreation Specialist. Stephanie recently graduated from San Francisco State University with a major in child and adolescent development and a minor in education. She is hoping to soon pursue a career as an elementary school teacher and is very excited for camp this summer!
Valeria Rios
Valeria joined the Club J team in the fall of 2023. She is a recent graduate of the University of California Irvine with a degree in phycology and a minor in education. As a Club J teacher, she encourages her students' gardening habits. Her favorite hobbies include reading, visiting museums, going to the beach and drinking coffee. She is eager to spend time with campers this summer!