Our Staff

Dan Baer – Camp Director

Dan joined the Camp Seneca Lake team in January of 2022 after 6 years as the Camp Director of Camp Mountain Chai in San Diego. Previously, Dan held positions as the Camp Operations Officer at Camp Inc. Business Academy in Denver, CO and as the Associate Director of Camp Interlaken JCC in Milwaukee, WI. Dan was a participant in the Foundation for Jewish Camp’s Yitro Leadership Program and Lekhu Lakehm Fellowship, and he was JCCA Merrin Teen Professional Fellow.

Dan holds a degree in Applied Economics and Management from Cornell University, and is excited to return to the Finger Lakes region. Growing up in Akron, OH, Jewish community has been a part of his life since growing up at JCC preschool and continuing through his active involvement with BBYO and Hillel. Dan enjoys traveling, playing soccer, skiing, hiking, and rooting on his hometown sports teams.

Abby Blackmon – Assistant Director | Camper and Staff Experience

For Abby, there is no better place than camp! A Rochester native, Abby attended summer camp throughout her childhood including camp at the Rochester JCC! Abby earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Social Studies Secondary Education from Duquesne University. Before joining the CSL team, previous positions include Program Director of J&R Day Camp at the JCC of Greater Pittsburgh, Camp Director at YMCA Camp Bay View and Community Engagement Specialist at the Girl Scouts of Western New York. When not at camp, you can catch Abby and her fiancée Peter, hiking, spending time with family and friends, and playing with their dog, Molly. 

Molly Okun – Assistant Director | Program and Alumni Engagement

Molly is a lifelong “happy camper” and has spent 18 life changing summers at Jewish overnight summer camps across North America. Having never lived north of Atlanta, Georgia, Molly comes to snowy Rochester from Tampa, Florida and holds a bachelor’s of science degree in Sociology from Florida State University. Prior to joining the CSL team, Molly was the Community Engagement Manager at Jewish Federation of San Diego, Director of Teen Learning and Engagement at Temple Sinai in Atlanta, and the Program Director / Staff-in-Training Director at Camp Mountain Chai in San Diego. Molly’s favorite camp job is being the S’mores Specialist and she is looking forward to roasting mallows in the CSL firepits this summer. While not at camp, Molly enjoys traveling, reading/watching Harry Potter, and playing board/card games with friends.

Josh Van Horn – Property Manager

Josh has been working for Camp Seneca Lake since 2012. He began seasonally as the Assistant Tiyulim (trips) Director before becoming Tiyulim Director. He moved into year-round work in facilities in 2015 and has been the Property Director since 2019. Josh graduated from Finger Lake Community College with a degree in Natural Resource Conservation, and loves to get people to guess species of trees that are around them. In his spare time, Josh loves to go running, play board games, and go camping with his wife Blake and their three dogs: Anubis, Harper, and Blanche.