Sorrel Thomson, Incoming Director of Camp, Youth and Family

Sorrel is new to Camp Raanana, the Ann Arbor J and Michigan entirely. He grew up and attended JCC camps and Habonim Dror Camp Galil in Greater Philadelphia, and in the summer of 2024 served as Assistant Director of Athletics at NJY’s Camp Nah-Jee-Wah in the Pocono Mountains. With over ten years of camp experience, some of Sorrel’s favorite activities as a camper were playing knockout basketball, singing camp songs and dancing to Israeli music. Sorrel’s love for camp has always been so strong that even after his family moved to Southwest Florida he continued to attend overnight camp at Galil and serve as a counselor as well.

Sorrel is passionate about education and recreation, and before coming to Ann Arbor was substitute teaching in Southwest Florida and Sunday school teaching at Temple Sinai in New Orleans. In 2024, he completed his Masters in Sport Business Management at the University of Central Florida in Orlando with the hopes to apply the degree in community recreation and contribute to Jewish community work. Sorrel is so excited to be at Camp Raanana this summer and cannot wait to meet you all!

Christian May, Assistant Director of Camp, Youth, and Family

Christian has lived  in Michigan since 2019 and joined the Camp Raanana team in 2021 as Senior Counselor for the kindergarten group. Over the next year, Christian served as a core member of the KidZone staff, working with many of the same children and counselors from the summer before. In summer 2022 he was a member of the camp leadership staff, serving as site supervisor for the JCC site. He moved into the Assistant Camp, Youth, and Family Director position in 2023, and is excited to continue in that role this summer! Christian has a passion for nature conservation and creative expression and looks forward to bringing these passions to his role.

Christian grew up in Millis, Massachusetts, about an hour southwest of Boston. There he was a Boy Scout, earning his Eagle Scout award and became a member of the Science Society. He would go on to attend Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, where he studied Creative Writing, Literature, History and Film with a particular focus on Historical Fiction. Camp has been a part of his life for years, first as a camper, later a counselor, and then in a leadership role.

Marlowe Susselman, Outgoing Director of Camp, Youth, and Family

Marlowe, known fondly by campers as “Marshmallow,” is thrilled to be returning to camp for her 16th season. Marlowe has fulfilled many different roles at Camp Raanana, from being a camper herself all the way up to her current position as Director of Camp, Youth, and Family at the JCC. She has always had a particular affinity for water, and is excited to return to her roots down at the waterfront this season.

Marlowe was born and raised in Canton, Michigan, where she engaged in many interests including swimming, tennis, violin, and the visual arts. She then went on to earn her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a Secondary Major in Environmental Studies from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.  Irrespective of her academic and professional pursuits, camp has been an integral part of her life for years now and she cannot wait for another summer to begin!