named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Family Camp
Program offering alumni and their families the opportunity to return to camp for shared experiences and community building.
Israel Trip
Life-changing summer trip to Israel for teen campers, designed to deepen cultural and Jewish identity.
Jewish Life Programming
Integrates Jewish values, traditions, and education into daily camp life, including holiday celebrations and rituals.
Summer Overnight Camp
Eight-week residential summer camp experience for children and young adults, combining outdoor activities, Jewish life, and personal development.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Community CPR and First Aid Training 1 activity
- Deliver staff training and professional developmentProvides free First Aid & CPR training to new counselors prior to orientation, a benefit valued at $200, as part of staff onboarding and capacity building.
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Israel and Jewish Heritage Educational Travel 1 activity
- Lead international teen programmingOrganizes and leads a Summer 2027 Israel trip for teen campers as part of expanded programming for older youth.
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Organizational Sustainability Management 1 activity
- Manage organizational strategy and fiscal healthOversees long-term fiscal health, strategic planning, and policy development for Surprise Lake Camp to ensure sustainable operations.
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Jewish Youth Summer Camps 1 activity
- Operate residential summer camp for Jewish youthProvides a Jewish sleepaway camp experience for children in grades K-10, fostering personal growth, community, and lifelong friendships through recreation, Jewish ritual, and environmental education. The camp operates on a 460-acre wooded facility located 60 miles from New York City.
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Alumni Community Building 1 activity
- Organize alumni engagement and reunion eventsCoordinates alumni relations, hosts alumni reunion events with food, music, and games, and plans off-season special events to maintain community connections across generations.
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Summer Camp Access Scholarships 1 activity
- Provide financial accessibility and enrollment supportOffers camp services regardless of families' ability to pay, manages camper registration and tuition assistance processes, and provides guidance to families navigating enrollment and transitions between camp divisions.
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Residential Camp Health & Safety Services 1 activity
- Support camper health and emotional well-beingOperates a Camper Care Team including Health Center staff and two full-time summer social workers focused on physical and emotional well-being, integrated into daily camp life.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Recruit and compensate seasonal staffEmploys approximately 270 summer staff members, including about 25% recruited from Israel and Europe, and provides tiered salaries for bunk counselors ranging from $1,650 to $3,450 based on education level completed, along with scheduled time off during the session.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$4.16M
Contributions & grants$1.34M32%
Program service revenue$2.41M58%
Investment income$420K10%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$4.73M
Program expenses82%
Admin / overhead14%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$1.89M
Grants paid out$334K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$13.82M
Cash$58K
Investments$7.43M
Liabilities$834K
Net assets$12.98M
Liquid reserves19.0 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +9.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADAM BENDESON | Executive Dir. | 40 | $214K |
| Sheryl Kirschenbaum | Camp Director | 40 | $129K |
board members · 23
- Alan Hoffman — Director
- Alan Kleiman — Director
- Blair Klaff — Secretary
- Bret Tenenhaus — Director
- Charles Jainchill — President
- Cindy Shmerler — Vice President
- DAYLE HENSHEL — Director
- DR JOSEPH GOLDBERG — Director
- Eliot Senor — Director
- Eve Rubinstein — Vice President
- Gayle Doyle — Treasurer
- JOY HENSHEL — Director
- James Meyer — Director
- Jerry Meyer — Director
- Jordana Zbar — Asst. Treasurer
- Laurence H Rubinstein — Director
- Linda Markowitz — Director
- MARK LEVINE — Vice President
- Margery Arsham — Director
- Matthew Grosshandler — Vice President
- Michael Zbar — Director
- Michele Mark Levine — Director
- PATTI HENSHEL — Director
relationships · 17
Who they work with
- 92nd Street Y Partner — Partner that housed Surprise Lake Camp’s year-round office for a time.
- American Camp Association Government — Follows the American Camp Association's best practice by enforcing a no-tipping policy for staff.
- Federation of Jewish Philanthropies Network — One of the initial member agencies of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies.
- Glenham Fire Dept Partner — Hosts the Lawnfest alumni event at its location.
- JCC Association of North America Network — Member of the network of camps within the JCC Association of North America.
- Jewish community Network — Identifies as part of the Jewish community through its identity as a Jewish sleepaway camp.
- Jim Meyer Partner — Former board leader serving in an honorary capacity.
- Jordan Dale Partner — Serves as special advisor to the board.
- Metro-North Railroad Government — Provides transportation access connecting camp staff to New York City.
- Michael Herson Partner — Former board leader serving in an honorary capacity.
- Mid-Island Y JCC Partner — Former employer of Sheryl Kirschenbaum, where she served as Director of Youth and Camping Services prior to joining Surprise Lake Camp.
- Ruth Messinger Partner — Former board leader serving in an honorary capacity.
- SLCAA Partner — Collaborates with the Surprise Lake Camp Alumni Association on events and fundraising initiatives such as the annual raffle.
- Sheryl Kirschenbaum Partner — Camp Director leading the organization.
- Stan Josephson Partner — Former board leader serving in an honorary capacity.
- Surprise Lake Camp Network — Member of a network of Jewish camps providing values-based, culturally rich summer experiences.
- UJA-Federation of New York Partner — Core Partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Mission-Aligned Staff Development and Community Buildingmethodology: experiential leadership developmentBy selecting staff based on character and immersing them in values-based training and team responsibilities, the camp builds a diverse, mission-driven community that models excellence and fosters camper development, because staff behavior and cohesion are central to replicating the camp’s transformative culture.
- Technology-Free Experiential Growth Modelmethodology: technology-free immersionBy removing technology and placing youth in nature-based, physically and creatively engaging activities, the camp promotes personal growth, confidence, and grit, because unplugged immersion creates conditions for safe risk-taking, perseverance, and authentic peer connections.
- Values-Integrated Immersive Experiencemethodology: values-integrationBy embedding core Jewish values (middot) into daily camp life and programming, Surprise Lake Camp fosters character development and community well-being, because consistent value reinforcement in an immersive setting shapes behavior and deepens interpersonal connections.