Meet Our Executive Director

Letter from Michael Friedman

Michael has been affiliated with Vacamas since 1979. Prior to joining the Vacamas staff he served as Executive Director of the Silver Lake YMCA & Conference Center, Executive Director of Camp Madison-Felicia and Executive Director of the Bellport Area Community Action Agency. Michael was a VISTA Volunteer during the late 1960s. A native of New Jersey, Michael attended Wagner College and graduated with a degree in Psychology. He also took graduate courses in social work and education at the New School for Social Research in New York City. Michael has been a Standards Visitor for the American Camping Association for many years and serves on various ACA committees. Email Michael or read Michael’s Executive Director letter

Meet Our Associate Executive Director

Sandra I. Friedman

Sandi has been a Vacamas staff member since 1981. She has extensive experience in the camping field, having served in supervisory positions for over 40 years. Her camping experience began with the B’Nai B’rith organization. Sandi’s experience prior to coming to Vacamas includes working with at-risk youth in a year-round camp setting as well as providing services in an anti-poverty program in Suffolk County, NY. After completing her BA in Sociology/Psychology at Ohio University, Sandi joined the VISTA program in the 1960s. During her tenure at Vacamas, Sandi has served as Camp Director, Registrar, Agency Coordinator, Program Director and Teen Coordinator before taking on the position of Associate Executive Director in 1997. Sandi currently oversees all agency and union collaborations for our camping programs, as well as the alternative education and outdoor and experiential education for Vacamas’ many year-round programs. Email Sandi.

Meet Our Program Director and Camp Top of the Pines Director

Wilson A. Santos

Wilson Santos has been a member of the Vacamas staff for two decades. Prior to his current senior staff position, he was Program Administrator of our CAPS programs, Site Facilitator, Outreach Worker, Assistant Camp Director, Camp Counselor and Lifeguard. Wilson began with Vacamas as a student participant in the Teen Opportunity Program.

Wilson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work, serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors for the Cypress Hills Child Care Corporation. He also serves as a volunteer presenter for the World Wide Marriage Encounter movement, a Catholic-based organization focused on strengthening marriages throughout the world. Is a current member of PEK (PI-ETA-KAPPA) an honors society whose objective is to: Encourage, Stimulate, and maintain excellence in scholarship, promote and support exemplary ethical standards in all conduct, develop and train responsible and respected leaders in all fields of human endeavors.   Email Wilson.

Meet Our Camp Vacamas Director

Elly Connelly Newberry

Elly joined the staff of Vacamas in 2001 as a camp counselor through the organization’s international staff program. Elly has since served the camp in many roles including Division Head, Head Counselor and as the leader of our year-round Alternative Education Programs. She has been Summer Camp Director at Camp Vacamas since 2006. Elly graduated from Glasgow University in her native Scotland in 1996 with a Bachelor of Education Honors Degree. She worked as an elementary and middle school teacher for several years in inner-city schools in the UK before she joined the full-time Vacamas staff in 2002. Email Elly.

Meet the Director of Vacamas Day Camp

Gail Gailbraith

Gail has been the Town of Bloomingdale Recreation Director for 8 years and has had extensive experience running their Summer Recreation Day Camp Program. She has worked with children at daycare centers and as a substitute teacher for a total of 15 years. She attended William Paterson University with a major in Sociology and Education and a minor in Literature. Email Gail.

QUESTIONS?

You can contact us at any time if you have questions about our camps, our programs, donations or anything else. Please feel free to call us at 973-838-0942.