For 26 years, Debbie Sussman was the Director of Camp Yavneh, a residential summer camp for kids ages 8-17. Under her leadership camper enrollment, retention and staff retention increased significantly. During this time many new programs were created: a summer-in-Israel program, a program for special needs campers integrating them into the camp setting to compliment and enhance the camp’s mission. Innovative additional programming like Family Camp (an after-camp weeklong session), contributed not only to Yavneh’s bottom line but more importantly proved to be a feeder for new Yavneh campers. The Yavneh Retreat Center was developed during these years and operates in non-camp months serving many not for profit organizations.
Before becoming a Camp Director Debbie worked with developmentally delayed children as a Physical Therapist. Since Debbie’s retirement from Camp Yavneh in 2016, she has been consulting in the camping realm and volunteering at The Newton Centre Food Pantry, and as a volunteer reviewer for DCF. Debbie loves the outdoors and spends many hours having fun with her seven grandchildren!