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.

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 eleventh summer with J-Camp. In her free time, she enjoys crafting and reading, but most of all being a mom to her two daughters.

Yael Palti-Yahav—Tayasim Program Leader

This is Yael's eighth 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.

Christina Ivey

Christina started at Club J in 2022 and has worked three 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!

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 fourth summer with J Camp, and he has had a blast 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!