Our Directors

Wendy has a master’s degree in education and was a teacher for 20 years before becoming the full time owner and director of Willow Lake in 1996. Willow Lake Day Camp has been in her family since 1980. Wendy has seen firsthand the positive impact a camp experience has on children- developing independence, confidence and competence. The mother of 3 children and now also a grandmother, Wendy realizes that selecting an appropriate camp program can be difficult. She is happy to answer any questions and discuss any concerns you might have regarding Willow Lake specifically or your child’s readiness to begin a day camp experience.

Charles Maltzman has spent his entire life at camp and is thrilled to be part of the Willow Lake family. His extensive background in day and resident camp make him a valuable friend and advisor to our campers, staff and parents. Charles is passionate about camp and is committed to providing a healthy, safe and fun camp experience. He is actively involved with American Camp Association and is a former member of the Tri-State Conference Steering Committee and a former committee member of SCOPE, an organization that helps send disadvantaged kids to camp. Charles has two daughters who will be Willow Lake campers for many years.

Jake is the third generation of his family carrying on the Willow Lake tradition – his grandmother, Bea Weissman, founded Willow Lake in 1980 and Jake started attending camp at age 4. As an adult, Jake has grown up through the ranks beginning as a camp counselor and then a specialist, an outdoor adventure supervisor, and now a director. He holds a wealth of camp experience and knows personally the long history of Willow Lake.

Jake studied environmental science and recreation management at the University of Vermont and received his master’s in elementary education from Rutgers. He is deeply passionate about the wondrous effect camp can have on children and is committed to making sure Willow Lake will always be a place where campers can be themselves, make friends, and discover new things, all while in a safe, warm, nurturing environment. This was his own experience growing up at camp and his mission is to pass it forward.

Jake and his spouse, Khusbu, reside in Morristown with their two children, Avi and Bea, who are having amazing summers year after year at Willow Lake.

Kim grew up in Short Hills and has been attending or working at camp for much of her life. After graduating from Lehigh University, Kim spent her early years in the corporate world. Feeling unfulfilled, she returned to her first love, working with children. Kim is a certified teacher who has years of experience working with children including as the Director of a private preschool. Kim also has a professional background in camping having previously been a Unit Leader and a member of the year-round team at another New Jersey day camp.

Kim loves and is inspired by the magic of summer camp! She relishes helping to provide that experience to campers and their families. Kim especially appreciates helping families to grow to love Willow Lake as she has. Her role as Assistant Director allows her to be hands-on with many important aspects of camp. For Kim, camping is a family affair – her husband Andy is a unit leader at Willow Lake during the summers and her daughter also calls Willow Lake her summer home!

“Coach Zach” as he is known, grew up in North Caldwell and has spent almost every summer of his life attending camp. Zach is a Montclair State graduate and has spent the past 10 years coaching children of all ages and abilities in a variety of sports. He has led classes, been the “commissioner” of sports leagues, hosted birthday parties, led team training and taught private lessons.

Zach is excited to join our year round team as Athletic Director. He brings with him a wealth of experience and is passionate about the camp experience and the benefits it can have on children. Zach is committed to the Willow Lake Day Camp philosophy of believing the best way to coach sports is to help campers build confidence while teaching fundamentals in a fun, safe and supportive environment.

Zach is an avid Jets and Yankees fan and resides with his wife and daughter.

Rachel graduated from Ramapo College and has been involved in summer camp her entire life. After college, she was a Montessori preschool teacher and dedicated her summers to camp as a Program Director.  She began her camp journey at the age of 5 and turned her passion into her profession. She has been a Camp Director at a day camp in New Jersey for the past 6 years and is excited to be a part of the Willow Lake family! Rachel loves the camp environment and believes that it is a place where kids can thrive and be themselves.

Siobhan grew up in Englewood, NJ,  but really believes that a lot of her development was really done in the Pocono Mountains attending and working at residential camps. The six summers she spent as a camper showed her that she always wanted camp to be a part of her life, and the best way to do that was to make it her career! In 2022 she graduated with honors from Manhattan College with a degree in Psychology.

During her time at Manhattan College Siobhan was captain of the cheerleading team, coached a competitive gymnastics program, and spent her summers working at a residential camp. Working with children has always been one of her passions, and camp has been the other. Siobhan believes that camp is not only a place to be in the summers, but that it truly is a way of life!!