Our Team
Cuamba Campers turned into Counselors!
Cooper “Chillz” Gimbel
Owner
Cooper “Chilsz” Gimbel attends the University of Mississippi as a sophomore. Chills has spent the past two summers at Camp Cuamba as a counselor and a owner. He is very excited to be back at camp again as a owner. Along with playing lacrosse and golf for Highland Park High School, he also coached baseball and basketball for the HP Park District for 3 years. Chillz loves playing all sports. His favorite activity at Cuamba is the softball game played every week and he can’t wait to get back in action this summer. Chillz is excited for another year at Camp Cuamba!
Jack “JY” Illes
counselor
Jack “JY” Illes currently attends Highland Park High School as a senior. His favorite sport is soccer and he plays for the high school team. He also enjoys spending time as a boxing coach for kids at his gym, Pulse. Last year, JY was a counselor at Northmoor Country Club but is looking to change things up and shift to the best camp in the North Shore. JY is excited to spend the summer working at Cuamba.
Billy “Conway” Cohen
Owner
Billy attends The University of Illinois. Conway was a part of the Highland Park Hockey Team, and captained the team during his senior season. He spent his summers at camp Ojibwa, but most recently was working at Camp Cuamba. His favorite Cuamba activity is the basketball tournament that occurs every Friday. Conway is ecstatic to be back and own the camp that played such an integral part in his youth!
Jake “derf” derfel
Counselor
Jake attends Highland Park High school as a senior. Derf plays soccer for the high school and plays football for leisure. Derf spent last summer as a camp counselor for Northmoor Country Club but decided to embark on the Cuamba journey. He also loves to help coach soccer with his soccer club. His favorite activities last summer were golf and frisbee. Derf can’t wait for this summer at the best camp around.
Past Owners:
2022 - Aaron “Legend” Powers
2021 - Nick “Niz” Heilizer
2020 - Nick “Niz” Heilizer & Max “Koopa” Cooper
2019 - Jack “Ya-ya” Charrlin
2018 - Hallvard “Zed” Lundevall
2017 – Noah “Nacho” Pines
2016 – Jordan “Spam” Pastron
2015 & 2014 – Nick “Goose” Fiore & Todd “Slick” Schoenfeld
2013 – Joey “Bluto” Rudman
2012 – Tellef “Thor” Lundevall
2011 – Joey “Dozer” Noon
2010 & 2009 – Matt “Cyrus” Kornblatt & Doug “Fresh” Krefman
2008 – Oliver “Chubbs” Plotkin
2007 – Danny “Bear” Nathan
2006 – Adam “Gatsby” Krefman
2005 & 2004 – Brett “Bleb” Pessis
2003 – Eric “Lars” Schreiber
2002 – David “Biff” Pessis & Mike “Puck” Boettcher
2001 & 2000 – Ben “Quinn” Kanter
1999 & 1998 – Robby “Scruff” Mandel
1997 – Doug “Duke” Kessel
1996 – Mike “Woody” Mandel
1994 & 95 – Jesse “Cruzer” Criz
1993 – Joey “Juice” Aronson
1991 & 1992 – Jon “Butch” Gray and Jon “Loaf” Michelon
1990 & 1989 – Adam “Roodle” Rudman & Peter “Slick” Rudman
1988 –Teddy “Tweety” Wittenberg
1987 – David “Frid” Freidland
1986 – Doug “Crash” Belgrad
““I cannot express how wonderful Camp Cuamba has been for our family! All three of my boys have been apart of the Cuamba “family” for the past 5 years. It has been and will always be the best camp my boys ever attend. The level of comfort and confidence the counselors have given my boys cannot be replicated. The counselors/owners of the camp will take your kids under their wings and bring out the best in them! Not only does the camp have sports, outdoor games, beach outings and field trips (Great America, water parks, Cubs games, ect.), but the counselors enthusiasm and excitement about each and every kid is unmatched by any camp!! Love love love Cuamba!!”
–The Meyer Family (Cuamba Parents 2012-2017)
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