Ariella Skoczylas - Camp Programming, By Design podcast host
Ariella Skoczylas
Podcast Host: Camp Programming, By Design
At what camps were you a camper?
Willoway
Moshava
What camps have you worked at?
Moshava Overnight
Moshava Day Camp
Camp Lavi
Why is working at summer camp important to you?
Working at summer camp matters deeply to me because camp is a uniquely powerful space for growth. Where else can a child learn to shoot a basketball, care for an animal, and communicate effectively, all in the same afternoon?
Camp teaches life skills alongside classic outdoor adventures, like tying knots, swinging from trees, and riding horses, but its true magic lies in teaching kids how to be better human beings and make lifelong friends.
Children possess boundless potential, and they thrive when given the right environment. I want to be part of building those environments and ensure every child has the opportunity to experience that transformation.
Who is a camp leader you look up to and why?
A leader I deeply respect and strive to emulate is Ari Nussbaum, the former director of the day camp where I most recently worked.
Ari has a rare gift: every single parent, camper, staff member, and team leader feels comfortable approaching him. He makes everyone feel as though their perspective genuinely matters, both to him personally and to the broader vision of the camp.
It is no surprise that under his leadership, the camp nearly doubled in size in just a few short years!
What was the first time you were noticed and appreciated by an adult that wasn't your parent?
I was around fourteen when an adult outside my family truly made me feel seen for the first time. It happened during a Friday night discussion group at a middle school retreat. I
said something a little unconventional, and instead of brushing it off, the group leader asked me to elaborate. After the session, she pulled me aside just to hear more of my thoughts.
Unsurprisingly, she’s now the director of a remarkably successful camp in Pennsylvania, Camp Stone.
I have no idea what topic we were discussing that night, but that wasn't the point. What stayed with me was the feeling that my voice actually mattered.
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Listen to Ariella on Camp Programming, By Design