Getting to Know Andrea Spector
POSITION: HEAD NURSE
As the head nurse at Iroquois Springs, Andrea has a very important role in keeping campers and staff members healthy and safe. Although no one wants to end up in the health center, Andrea prides herself on trying to make the best of the situation to keep the campers’ spirits high. In addition to taking care of the ill and the injured, Andrea and her staff of five nurses distribute medications, provide loving care and encouragement for all and assist the outstanding doctors at the camp.
How many summers have you spent at Iroquois Springs, and what brought you here in the first place?
This will be my 15th summer at Iroquois Springs. My children were campers at Camp Sequoia (before the ownership and name change), and I have always had a love for the camp. When I met Mark and Bubba, I knew that Iroquois Springs was the place for me!
What was your childhood camp experience like?
I attended Camp B’nai B’rith (which is now Perlman) for 10 years as a camper and staff member. I learned the value of experiencing camp there and developed relationships that I still maintain to this day.
What do you believe makes Iroquois Springs special for campers and staff?
Iroquois Springs is truly a community-minded place, focused on building relationships and bringing out the best in each individual. Every camper and staff member is encouraged and supported to grow and experience new things beyond their comfort zone. The incredibly nurturing environment makes it a very special place for campers to spend their summers.
Please discuss briefly anything that you feel helps create a smooth mid-summer transition as partial summer campers leave and arrive.
I think that we do a good job of making the departing campers feel special as their camp experience comes to an end, and the mid-summer arrivals feel special as their camp experience begins. All the while, we do whatever we can to make sure that we don’t miss a beat in keeping the transition days as normal as possible for the remaining campers, who are great at welcoming the new campers upon arrival.
How do you spend the 10 months waiting for camp to start?
I am a school nurse during the school year. I work in the Plainview-Old Bethpage School District as the district nurse coordinator and one of two nurses in the high school. I do get to see some of the Iroquois Springs campers in school, which is always fun.
What are your hobbies?
I love to participate in a variety of group fitness classes – I especially love advanced step, kickboxing, and spinning. I also like to knit, read, and my guilty pleasure is to play mindless games on the computer.
What are your favorite Iroquois Springs activities, events, traditions?
I love being part of all camp activities. It gives me pleasure to see the whole camp together participating and interacting in a variety of programs. My favorite would have to be Sing. I love watching the kids really show their enthusiasm and talent.
Please share a fond memory or two about your time at Iroquois Springs:
While it is always bittersweet, I love the last night of camp at the lake. It is a time of all being together and looking back at the summer and ahead to the next. The past few years the boats have been put into the lake. I think that is a great tradition!
I have watched my children grow up at camp. We have been part of the Iroquois Springs family for 15 years. Having been able to share this experience with my children is extraordinarily special. We have all experienced camp friendships and relationships together and there is nothing like it in the world!