Leora Cohen, Camp Director
Welcome to Green Cove Day Camp! I am thrilled to be working with this amazing team and to partner with all of you to help Green Cove grow into the love-filled, fun-filled, communal experience that all children deserve.
A little about me …
I received a BA in Psychology and theater from SUNY Albany and a Master’s in Social Work from Hunter College. As an adjunct professor at Hunter School of Social Work, I taught a Group Work elective course designed to increase students’ understanding of the purposeful use of activities in groups. I later co-directed the Life Lines Community Arts Project in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, a comprehensive interdisciplinary in-school, afterschool and summer arts program.
In 17 years at Elmwood Day Camp, I was always drawn to positions that allowed me to support campers and families as they navigated the social and emotional components of camp life. I also had the opportunity to lead many program areas, as Elmwood’s Orientation Director, Club Director, and creator of the Service Learning and Elmwood Seniors Programs.
As both a parent and someone who has worked with children for 30 years, my belief in the importance and power of camp is stronger than ever.
Camp should be a joyous place where each child is accepted for who they are, where they are surrounded by positive and nurturing staff who help them thrive, and where they are supported in building lasting friendships. Those principles serve as the foundation for Green Cove Day Camp and I am so excited to embark on this adventure with all of you!
I look forward to getting to know you and your children and to making this summer a memorable one for all.
Our Story
Green Cove was developed as a collaboration between the owners/directors of Elmwood Day Camp and Camp Akeela.
Elmwood, directed by Gregg Licht and Hillari Boritz, is a premier day camp in Westchester County. It is known throughout the New York area for its caring staff, sense of community, innovative progressive programming, and the personalized attention given to its campers and their families. After a combined 60+ years at Elmwood, Gregg and Hillari dreamed of creating a camp for kids who needed a little more social support and a camp environment tailored even more intentionally to them.
This is where Debbie and Eric Sasson, founders and directors of Camp Akeela, come into the story. Akeela, which opened in 2008, is an overnight camp in Vermont for “quirky” kids. It’s a small camp where every camper feels a true sense of belonging and, with the support of staff, builds lifelong friendships unlike any others they’ve experienced. When designing Akeela, the Sassons started with their favorite components of traditional New England sleepaway camps and tweaked them in ways that fit the needs of neurodivergent campers. That unique perspective, and the ongoing success of Akeela, were why Hillari and Gregg knew that the Sassons were the perfect partners with whom to develop Green Cove Day Camp.
Advisory Board
We are grateful to have these amazing professionals on our team.
Amy Fishkin, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction, Bedford NY
Amy’s journey to Green Cove began as a 17 year old counselor at Elmwood Day Camp. After discovering her love for working with children there, she studied psychology at U Penn and earned a Masters in Education at Bank Street. Amy has spent the past 27 years in public education, as a teacher and administrator.
Her son, Nate, was diagnosed with ASD at age 2, sparking a parental journey to understand how to best support him. In a full circle moment for Amy, Nate became a camper at Elmwood in 2013. When Nate was 14, Amy found Camp Akeela, where they learned that he could not only survive camp, but thrive as a fully participating member of a camp community. The predictable, calm environment, with extra layers of social support, allowed Nate to truly shine.
Amy is thrilled to be a part of the amazing team that has combined the best of Elmwood with the vision of Akeela. Green Cove Day Camp is a true gem in our community where neurodivergent campers can grow personally, connect socially, and find their true community.
Dr. Susie Cutler, MD, Pediatrician at Northwell Health
Dr. Susie is a “camp lifer” who attended camp from age 5 – 17, married a camp director, and then spent 19 summers as a camp doctor! As a personal witness to the transformative potential of camp, she is honored to have the opportunity to join the Green Cove family.
After studying Biological Basis of Behavior at U Penn, Dr. Susie attended medical school at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC. She completed her pediatric residency there and went on to serve as a chief resident. Dr. Susie has been working as a general pediatrician for over 19 years and is passionate about helping children become the best versions of themselves.
Dr. Susie recognizes the unique needs of neurodivergent children and, as an aunt of a child with autism and a parent, she is thrilled to help Green Cove Day Camp provide an opportunity for children to thrive in a smaller, supportive camp setting!