Year-Round Leadership Team
Joel Swedlove – Camp Director
Joel is a product of the Jewish Summer Camp. His parents met at UAHC Camp Swig and he believes deeply in the importance of summer camp to the American Jewish community.
Joel grew up playing baseball, roller hockey, and soccer. He has coached Basketball for both boys and girls at the middle and high school levels with multiple appearances in the state playoffs for both California and Nevada.
Joel Swedlove served as the Director of Youth Programs and Informal Education for Temple Beth-El (San Antonio, TX) from June 2016 to 2020 before becoming the syngaogue’s first Director of Strategic Engagement. Prior to his time in Texas he worked at the Adelson Educational Campus in Las Vegas, NV as a Jewish Music Teacher, Athletics Assistant, and Coach. Joel has gained significant experience in informal education having spent his summers as a song leader, unit head, and program director for Camps Alonim, Hess Kramer, and JCC Maccabi Sports Camp, respectively.
Joel grew up in the Reform movement from his early summers at Camp Swig and Newman to serving as Religious and Cultural VP on NFTY Southern California’s Regional Board. Upon graduating High School he served as youth group advisor and director for congregations throughout Southern California and Las Vegas. Joel has an M.S. in Organizational Leadership & Innovation from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and received his B.S. in Communications from the University of Phoenix. He has a deep love of movies, comic books, and sports. Joel is the proud father of two boys, Ethan and Alexander.
Luke Sena – Assistant Camp Director
Luke has been a part of Jewish Summer Camp since he can remember. Luke grew up going to camp up the mountain as a camper at Camp Tawonga for 10 years. He then participated in the TLI and CIT programs before joining staff as counselor for 2 years.
Luke has served as the Teen Skills Director for the JCC in St. Louis for a summer as well as the Camp Operations Manager for Camp Keff, the day camp at the PJCC in Foster City. While Luke enjoyed working for day camps, he knew he wanted to come back to work for an overnight camp. Luke graduated from Indiana University in the winter of 2024 with a degree in Sports Marketing & Management and has been working at Maccabi Sports Camp since.
Luke loves Jewish Summer Camp and recognizes the importance and role it plays in the lives of Jewish youth. His love for camp is only rivaled by his love for sports. Luke is a die-hard fan of all of the Boston sports team as well as the recent franchises of the Bay Area; Bay-FC and the Golden State Valkyries. Luke loves to stay active and loves playing all sports, especially golf.