Summer Camp Senior Directors

Senior Directors

Jon and Sara Deren exchanged vows at Manitou on the shores of East Lake. Jon, a former Manitou camper and counselor, enters his 13th summer of ownership with David. Jon — known at camp as "JD" — oversees all camp operations during the summer while coordinating Manitou's one-of-a-kind winter program during the off-season. Jon was a collegiate skier at Tufts and received his MBA from Columbia University. Jon serves on the Board of Directors for the American Camping Association - NY section and is active on several ACA committees.

Sara now spends her summers at Manitou, after spending the last six years day-dreaming about camp from her Manhattan office. Sara serves as Executive Director of Manitou Experience, a non-profit camp for boys who have lost a parent. Sara graduated from Lafayette College, and received her MBA from Columbia, where she also met Jon. Sara and Jon recently introduced Manitou's youngest camper, Dylan Rose, who joins Tyler and is very excited to spend the summer at her 200-acre playground.

During the year, Jon, Sara, Tyler, and Dylan live in Westport, CT.

David Schiff met Jon Deren in 1987 at the bus stop as 9 year old campers heading to Manitou. 20 years later, Dave continues to share his dream with Jon at Manitou. During the summer, David oversees camp's daily program and coordinates operations for the Central Maine Camp League. David has a masters degree in education and teaches middle school history in Tenafly, NJ during the off-season. He coaches Tenafly's boys high school soccer team and co-directs soccer camp in late August. Dave is active in the ACA and will be presenting at this year's Tri-State conference.

Summer Camp Directors—Page 2