15 years ago, two young professionals met over the sale of a raffle ticket at a SCOPE event. Who knew this chance encounter would ultimately be their love connection and allow them the opportunity to give children a summer camp experience AND build their own camp life together?
Good intentions brought Sam and Ilisha to the SCOPE event. Ilisha was there as an ACA, NY and NJ staff to volunteer at an event that would help send children from low-income families to summer camp with SCOPE “camperships”. Keith Klein (Camp Laurel) had event tickets but was unable to go; Sam, then new to the camp industry, immediately said yes. Attending the event was more than an opportunity for Sam; it was a way to do something new while stepping in and out of his comfort zone. Everyone was there to make new connections, but Sam and Ilisha took it a step further, they took a chance on love!
Since that chance meeting, Sam and Ilisha have worked hard to build their own thriving and loving summer camp life. This has meant utilizing and strengthening relationships – they created Woodmont Day Camp through support from camp professionals and mentors; connecting with camp families in a deeper way by following their camp slogan “where camp is family”; and striving each summer to become better camp directors.
Having their sons Ari (age 8) and Benjamin (age 10) grow up at Woodmont has been a learning experience. They gave their boys space to just be campers – ones whose parents don’t just happen to be the camp owners. Sam and Ilisha feel each boy has a great foundation for being campers and think this will help them experience overnight camp to the fullest. By creating opportunities for their children, Sam and Ilisha have given them chances to learn, grow, and ultimately, spread their wings.
Sam and Ilisha’s story reminds us how summer camp is more than just an experience; summer camp is a place full of new interactions, connections, challenges, and activities that allow you to step out of our comfort zone. Opening your heart to #SupportSCOPE means you can give SCOPE campers access to opportunities they never thought were in their reach – at camp and beyond!
The summer camp world is also a place where we can discover and share love, and sometimes, it’s at a SCOPE event!