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The most common question we receive is, “Where do you get your staff?” To which we reply, “We grow our own.”
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We strive to create a positive work atmosphere where our staff wishes to return year after year. The national average return rate for day camps is 50 percent. At Tall Pines the rate is 80 percent!
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Our Counselors
50% of Counselors working in bunks are former campers.
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Who Returns
80% of our staff returns each year. The national average is 50%.
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Senior Counselors
90% of Senior Counselors return each summer.
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10+ Years
25% of our staff has been here for 10+ years.
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Fast Facts About Our Staff
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Each bunk is led by a Senior Counselor with the assistance of two to three Junior Counselors. Senior Counselors have finished their freshman year of college. Junior Counselors have finished their freshman year of high school. All camp activities are led by a Specialist that has prior knowledge and experience in their area. Tall Pines employs 30+ American Red Cross certified Lifeguards to teach Instructional Swim and guard during Free Swim. The Staff screening process includes a face-to-face interview, three professional/personal reference checks, an annual criminal background check for staff over 18, and annual checks in the National Sex Offender Registry Database. -
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Andrew Yankowitz, Owner/Director, received his bachelor’s degree in Architectural Studies from the University of Pittsburgh and his master’s degree in Administration & City Planning from West Chester University. He served as an administrator for Willow Grove Summer Day Camp for over 15 years and has been the director of Tall Pines since it opened in 1996. He is also a camp consultant and award winning author in the planning field. Andrew brings 45 years of camping experience to his position as Director of Tall Pines Day Camp. In addition, Andrew has been a speaker at the Tri-State Camping Conference, the largest in the world, since 1995. Andrew resides in Cherry Hill with his wife and three children. Andrew Yankowitz was a camper of Marvin Domsky’s in 1972 at Willow Grove Summer Day Camp in Willow Grove, PA. Years later Andrew began working at Willow Grove Day Camp at the age of 14 starting in 1980. Domsky mentored him for almost 30 years, which prepared him to become the Director of Tall Pines Day Camp. In December of 2009 Andrew received the Howard Patton Award. It is the highest honor given to an American Camp Association, NJ Section individual who epitomizes the spirit of organized camp leadership and whose work has greatly benefitted youth and the camp profession. The award is given in loving memory of Howard Patton. Howard knew every aspect of camping and was the “Guiding Light” in many Camp Directors’ careers.
