Apachi Day Camp Ruach Award Winners 2025

This award recognizes outstanding individuals from a variety of Apachi Day Camp locations who exemplify our core values: Community, Kindness, Courage, Care for the World, Respect, and Spirit.

Ella Szymanski

Apachi Old Town
Ella embodies the spirit of the RUACH Award in every way. Working 1:1 with her inclusion camper, Ella approaches each day with patience, joy, and an unwavering commitment to making camp meaningful and fun. Even when faced with challenges, Ella never stops smiling. She has such great instincts and always does her best to make sure her camper feels included, safe, and happy. She not only uplifts her camper with her warmth, but she also builds genuine connections with other campers and staff, spreading kindness and positivity throughout the Apachi community. Ella shows up with intention, leads with heart, and makes everyone around her feel seen and valued. She is a model of Respect, Upstanding behavior, Acceptance, Courage, and Hesed and is truly deserving of this honor.

Zach Lidskin

‘Z’ Frank Apachi
Zach embodies what it means to be an upstanding counselor at ‘Z’ Frank Apachi. He goes above and beyond to support his campers, fellow staff members, and the leadership team. He is respectful, responsible, and full of Apachi ruach! Zach is always the first counselor to arrive at camp and the last to leave – making sure our space is ready for the next day. ‘Z’ Frank Apachi and Explorer 3 are so lucky to have Zach on our team!

Jessie Barron

Elaine Frank Apachi

Jessie is the heart and soul of our community, embodying the true meaning of “ruach” in everything they do. Whether it’s leading spirited songs, cheering others on during activities, or lifting up the entire group with their energy, Jessie’s passion is contagious. They don’t just participate—they inspire others to get involved and give their best.

Jessie brings joy to both structured activities and spontaneous moments. They show up with a positive attitude every day, ready to support others and help make our community stronger. Their enthusiasm is authentic and inclusive—everyone feels seen and valued around Jessie.

More than just loud or fun, Jessie channels their spirit in meaningful ways. They show respect for traditions, take initiative to help others, and model kindness and inclusion in every interaction. Jessie doesn’t just bring ruach—they are ruach.

Laila Levy

Apachi Irving Park
Laila has been an incredibly dedicated and engaged counselor this summer at Apachi Irving Park. She consistently shows up with a positive attitude and is fully present with her campers throughout each day. Laila goes out of her way to get to know each camper on a personal level, making every child feel seen, valued, and included. Her calm, caring demeanor and genuine enthusiasm help create a warm, welcoming environment where kids can thrive. Laila is a true team player, always willing to jump in and support wherever needed. We’re so lucky to have her as part of our camp family!

Jillian Shor

Apachi Evanston

Jillian brings unmatched energy and positivity from the moment the day starts. Her enthusiasm during Boker Tov has become a highlight of the morning, getting the entire Walker side excited and ready to go. She has a natural ability to make every camper feel welcome, seen, and cared for, building genuine connections that make a real difference.
As a Specialist, she’s created a space where kids can be creative, confident, and totally themselves. Campers genuinely look forward to their time in their specialty, and it’s not just about the projects, it’s about how Jillian makes them feel.
She’s also the kind of teammate who jumps in wherever help is needed. Whether supporting camper behavior, backing up a co-worker, or offering a friendly smile and kind word, she does it all with grace and heart. During Maccabi Week, she brought the ruach and the rainbows, fully embracing the spirit of camp and making it even more fun for everyone around them.
Jillian quietly does it all, with joy, with heart, and with so much love for camp.

Kitara Bradley

Apachi Northside

Kitara approaches every role that she has had with professionalism, a positive attitude, and a growth mindset. She has spent her summer as both a dance specialist and programming assistant. Working in programming is like balancing wearing twelve hats while juggling bowling pins and riding a unicycle. Kitara’s ability to jump into any situation and help out is so essential and valuable. Her presence at camp is not just a joy and delight, but a necessity. She has woven herself into the fabric of Apachi Northside and continues to shine bright with spirit at any and every opportunity.

Tracy Markin

Apachi Village Northbrook

Tracy embodies everything about Ruach, camp spirit. She is the heart and soul of Apachi Village, having been a part of the past 19 summers at The Best Place Under the Sun. Camp is not just a 2-month gig for Tracy, it’s on her mind all year long, and she strives to bring the best of everything to our littlest campers. Tracy personally helps hire every counselor on our team, ensuring that they have the passion and energy essential to the job. Her excitement is contagious during everyday events and truly apparent during our morning opening ceremonies, Maccabee week, Wacky Wednesdays, and of course, our weekly Shabbat celebrations. Tracy continuously strives to make every summer even better than the last. She is synonymous with Apachi Village – Tracy is a dedicated leader for staff, reassuring presence for families and enthusiastic model for campers – she has it all!