Director and Staff

As any good camp director will tell you, the key to a successful summer is the caliber of the staff. Implementing a dynamic program and maintaining a beautiful facility is only meaningful if our staff supports the mission of providing a safe and nurturing camp environment for our campers. The selection of quality staff is given top priority. We look for the “cream of the crop”……the best of the best.

At Agawak we select sensitive, enthusiastic, exceptional people who are dedicated to working with children. Our staff is composed of undergraduate and graduate students, teachers, coaches and high school students who love camp, the outdoors and working with children. Agawak staff members are high spirited, passionate individuals from around the country and world who want to make a positive difference in the lives of our girls.

In addition to the vast amount of rigorous, on-site training that our staff receives during pre-camp, they also go through intensive online training with industry professionals from Expert Online Training. 

Administration Staff

Mary Fried, Owner & Director

With over 30 years of camping experience Mary is a committed and seasoned director. Mary is only the third owner of Camp Agawak. Mary brings passion, hands-on leadership and incredible warmth to a camp culture that is as extraordinary as it is fun. Mary’s master’s degree in educational psychology along with a background in school counseling makes her a highly skilled and compassionate director. She has dedicated her life to working with children. Since 1989, Mary has helped thousands of young campers transition successfully to overnight camp.

Mary has 3 children Jaclyn, Jacob, and Joshua.

 

 

 

Chris Garcia, Associate Director

Hello! I am the associate director and have been working at camp year round for 13 years. I am the face behind many of the emails and phone calls camp families receive. I grew up in Minocqua, left for a few years but came back with my husband to raise our 4 kids in the beautiful northwoods. During the winter months I also coach swimming at the high school and club level. I cannot wait for Summer 2021!

Sara Mervis, CIT Director

Hi everyone!! It's Sara aka Merv....I am excited to be a member of the Administrative staff who will be here to share another summer at camp with you. This is truly my happy place! I have spent every summer of my life here at camp for at least a week, during post camp, and have had the pleasure of working at camp for over 17 years. While at camp, I work with the oldest campers, as the CIT Director, and Division Head for some of the senior cabins. During the school year, I am a 3rd grade special education teacher in the suburbs of Chicago, and am the proud mom to one camper and one counselor here at Agawak.

Ducky, Camp Chef

Hi. I’m DUCKY. I have been running the kitchen at Agawak since 1994. Over the years I have enjoyed preparing many foods from Grilled Cheese, Pizza, Pasta Bar, and Hobo Hash and many other favorites. I try to keep the menu at camp flavorful and exciting. Making meals that please everyone is difficult, yet I encourage them to give meals at camp a try. Who knows, they may really like it. But aside from the main dishes we have many other choices. Every breakfast has 8-10 different cereals and fresh fruits. Besides the hot meal at lunch, we have a full salad bar with toppings such as garbanzo beans, edamame, hard boiled eggs, baby carrots and much more with five to six different salad dressings and at least two fresh fruit choices. A few days a week lunch also includes homemade soups. There is also a sandwich bar where we offer flat bread wraps, sliced turkey and the fixings for a wonderful sandwich. At dinner time the same full salad bar is available along with the hot meal of the evening. Camp offers many choices daily and I always make sure the campers are taken care of. I am also familiar with a variety of medically approved diet restrictions from Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Diabetic Restrictions, and other allergy accommodations.   

Jacob Fried, Director of Operations & Camp Experience

Hey everyone! My name is Jacob Fried and I’m so excited for this summer! I’ve lived at camp my entire life and I love helping and working with our wonderful campers and staff. You can find me all over camp helping with activities programming and everything else that goes on here at camp. Smile on and FULL SPEED AHEAD!!!

Kiley Isaacson, Activities & Program Director

Hi campers! My name is Kiley Isaacson and I have been a part of Camp Agawak since 2007; first as a camper and since 2015 on staff. I’m so excited to be back. I will be your programming director this summer. I can’t wait to jump back into activity days, favorite Blue & White competitions, and evening programs. During the year I am a third grade teacher in the northern suburbs of Chicago. Can’t wait to be back on beautiful Blue Lake with you all!

Sort by Last Name:

Celia M

Hi! 

I'm really excited to be with you this summer! I can tell you that I am a person who really likes to know new places and people. I am in my last year of studying chemistry. In march i turned 24 and i hope to be able to continue with a postgraduate degree. I have also been looking for small pastry courses, something that I really like. See you this summer!

Den N

Hello, My name is Den. I am 18 and this is my first year at Camp Agawak. I’m very excited to meet everyone!

Georgeth N

Hi! Getth Here! I'm 19 and from Mexico. It's my first time being at camp. I will be in the kitchen. I'm at your service to help you with whatever you need, see you soon!

Tatum O

Hey everyone! My name is Tatum Oblonsky and I am from Northbrook, IL and living in Chicago. Currently I work for Amazon, but prior to that I went to Agawak for 11 years, my favorite place on earth! This year I will be a Rookie 2 counselor with Morgan Paull, my longtime Agawak best friend! I can’t wait to be back on Blue Lake, full speed ahead!

Brooke O

Hi! My name is Brooke, and next fall I will be a senior at Stevenson High School! This will be my 9th summer at camp and my 1st summer on staff! I’m so excited for this summer with everyone! Can’t wait!

Madison O

Hi! My name is Madison and I am 17 years old. This will be my 9th summer at camp but my 1st on staff! I am so excited to meet you all and cannot wait to spend the summer with you!

Morgan P

Hi everyone! My name is Morgan Paull, I’m 24 and from Northbrook, IL. Currently I work at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and will be graduating with my Masters of Science in Nursing from Rush University in August. I was a long-time camper at Agawak starting in 2009 and continued to come back as a counselor and helper in the Infirmary/Office every year since. This year I will be a counselor to the Rookie 2s with my best friend, who I met at Agawak, Tatum Oblonsky. Full speed ahead!

Lucy P

Hi! My name is Lucy Paull, I’m 20 years old and I’m from Highland Park, IL. I’ve been a camper at Agawak since 2014 and a counselor since 2022. My favorite activity at camp is waterskiing and I’m so excited to be back on Blue Lake this summer!

Aimee P

Hey everyone! I'm Aimee, I'm 22 years old and from Manchester, UK. I'm a musician, releasing my own music on streaming platforms alongside playing gigs in and around Manchester, arguably one of the best music cities in the world! I'm absolutely ecstatic to get down to camp for the very first time this summer and meet you lovely lot.

Bailee P

Hi wonderful parents, My name is Bailee I am 18 years old but I will be 19 by the time I arrive at Camp Agawak. I live with my beautiful parents and my older sister and younger brother in Melbourne, Australia.  I play Australian football and Netball and LOVE arts and crafts. I work in Childcare with children aged from 3 months old - 6 years old, which I love. I can’t wait to meet your lovely children and give them the best summer ever while making sure I meet their needs.