Agawak’s nurturing, fun and professional staff of educators, college students and coaches encourages our campers to develop new interests, gain valuable skills and discover their strengths in an inclusive and welcoming community. Camp Agawak is about making lasting friendships, building self-confidence and creating unforgettable memories.
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 three children Jaclyn, Jacob, and Joshua.
Jacob Fried, Assistant Director
With a lifetime of camping experience, Jacob Fried is a dedicated and enthusiastic member of the Camp Agawak community. Holding both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business from Marquette University, Jacob brings valuable skills to his role. Having lived at camp his entire life, he has a deep passion for helping and working with the wonderful campers and staff. His energetic presence can be felt throughout the camp as he assists with activities, programming, and everything that makes Agawak special. Jacob’s commitment to fostering a positive camp environment is evident in all that he does. He is eagerly looking forward to another exciting summer ahead, always with a smile on and ready to go FULL SPEED AHEAD!
Emily Williams, Activity and Program Director
Meet Emily, a beloved member of the Camp Agawak community, who is thrilled to embrace another summer of joy and adventure. With 14 years of experience at Agawak, she has journeyed from camper to counselor, served as Blue and White Commissioner, and is now part of the office staff. Emily graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder with a business degree, which enhances her role in coordinating activities for both staff and campers, ensuring everyone has a fantastic time. Her passion for camp shines through in everything she does, and her dedication to creating memorable experiences makes her an invaluable asset to the community. Emily truly loves Agawak and can’t wait to make this summer unforgettable for everyone!
Sarah Mervis, CIT Director
Meet Sara, affectionately known as Merv, a valued member of the Administrative staff at Camp Agawak, who is thrilled to share another summer with everyone. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s degree in teaching from National Louis University, which enrich her contributions to the camp. With a lifelong connection to this camp, she has spent every summer here for at least a week and has enjoyed over 17 years of dedicated service. As the CIT Director and Division Head for some of the senior cabins, Sara works closely with the oldest campers, fostering their growth and development. During the school year, she brings her passion for education to her role as a 3rd grade special education teacher in the suburbs of Chicago. A proud mother, she is excited to have one camper and one counselor in the Agawak community, making this truly her happy place!
Stephanie Becker Tasman, Director of Cabin Life
A familiar face on the shores of Blue Lake, Stephanie is thrilled to return to Camp Agawak for her 25th summer. A former camper, counselor, and assistant director, she now steps into the role of Director of Cabin Life, bringing with her a deep love for camp and a commitment to supporting both campers and staff. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Child Development from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in Teaching from National Louis University, along with years of experience working with children of all ages. During the school year, she is the Owner and Director of Little Ones Preschool in Northbrook. A proud mom to Braden and Talia—both devoted Agawak campers—and wife to Shawn, she is excited to help create a summer filled with meaningful connections, growth, and unforgettable memories. Agawak is truly her happy place, and she can’t wait to share the magic with everyone!
Camp Staff
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Rylee W. - Counselor
Rylee is from Highland Park, and this will be her 7th summer at camp and her first as a staff member! She loves how there are so many options available in both Blue and White sessions and in all the activities, giving everyone the freedom to try new things. Rylee is excited to share her energy and enthusiasm with campers and help make this summer unforgettable.
Jordyn L. - Counselor
Jordyn is from Northbrook, and this will be her 8th summer at camp and her first as a staff member! She has loved Agawak so much over the years that she couldn’t imagine spending her summers anywhere else. Jordyn loves the strong community and the meaningful relationships she has built over the years.
Sylvia F. - Counselor
Sylvia is returning to Camp Agawak from Deerfield, and this will be her 10th summer at camp and her third as a staff member! Over the years, camp has been a place where she’s grown in confidence and made lifelong friendships. Her favorite part of camp is the incredible friendships she’s built with staff members and the kindness she experiences from everyone at Agawak.
Drew S. - Counselor
Drew is from Chicago and this will be her 10th summer at camp and her first as a staff member! She loves the strong sisterhood and spirit at Agawak and is excited to spend the summer with friends, make many new ones, and help campers grow. Drew is looking forward to sharing her experience and energy with everyone at camp, making this summer unforgettable.
Charlotte B. - Counselor
Charlotte is joining Camp Agawak from Melbourne, Australia, and this will be her first summer at camp! She was drawn to Agawak for its strong sense of tradition and community, and she loves that it’s an all-girls camp focused on building confidence, leadership, and meaningful connections. The beautiful setting and landscape of Agawak also made her decision an easy one. Charlotte is most excited to experience summer in the U.S., especially the 4th of July, and to meet everyone while building lots of new friendships.
Evelyn F. - Counselor
Evelyn is joining Camp Agawak from North Queensland, Australia, and this will be her first summer at camp! She was drawn to Agawak because of its supportive culture and the high number of returning staff, which showed her that camp is more like a family than just a summer job. Evelyn is really looking forward to connecting with everyone, hearing their stories, and inspiring campers by helping build their confidence and teaching them new skills.
Katie R. - Counselor
Katie is returning to Camp Agawak from Wellington, New Zealand, and this will be her second summer at camp! She chose Agawak because it immediately felt like a welcoming community, especially as an all-girls camp. Katie’s favorite part of camp is the people, and she’s so excited to see everyone again and meet anyone new. Agawak is so lucky to have Katie back for another fantastic summer!
Ingrid F. - Counselor
Ingrid is returning to Camp Agawak from Victoria, Australia, and this will be her second summer at camp! She loves the tight-knit, all-girls community that feels like a second home and the chance to make so many new friends. Ingrid is most excited for hanging out with everyone on Blue Lake and creating memories that can’t be made anywhere else. She can’t wait to be back at Camp Agawak to see familiar faces and meet new people for another amazing summer!
Lily B. - Counselor
Lily is returning to Camp Agawak from San Diego, California, and this will be her 11th summer at camp and her second as a staff member! She’s been coming to Agawak since she was six and can’t imagine spending her summers anywhere else. Lily is most excited for kickboxing, tubing, and all the fun traditions that make camp so special.
Gracie W. - Counselor
Gracie is joining Camp Agawak from England, and this will be her first summer at camp! She was drawn to Agawak because it sounds like such a happy and exciting place, and she wanted to be part of a community that campers love so much. Gracie is most excited to meet new people from all over the world, make lifelong friends, and be a part of so many campers’ summers. She can’t wait to help the kids have an amazing time and create memories that will last a lifetime.
