Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey Welcomes Julie Jester as Camp Director and Operations Manager for The OVAL and Camp DeWitt
Media Contact:
Debra Rutt, Marketing & Communications Manager
Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey
drutt@gshnj.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey Welcomes Julie Jester as Camp Director and Operations Manager for The OVAL and Camp DeWitt
June 3, 2025 (Westfield, NJ) — Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey (GSHNJ) is excited to welcome Julie “Argyle” Jester as Camp Director and Operations Manager for The OVAL in Maplewood and Camp DeWitt in Hillsborough. Reporting to Roxie Zeek, Director of Girl Experience, Jester will oversee summer day camp operations at The OVAL and manage year-round programming and site use across both properties, supporting GSHNJ’s commitment to providing meaningful outdoor experiences for members and the broader community.
“We are thrilled to welcome Julie to the GSHNJ team,” said Roxie Zeek, Director of Girl Experience. “Julie has a track record of developing creative and engaging camp experiences. She understands that camp is more than just outdoor fun—it’s where young people build self-confidence, resilience, and a strong sense of self. With Julie’s leadership, we’re excited to continue offering unique opportunities that help Girl Scouts grow with purpose and joy—and gain the skills they need to thrive now and in the future.”
Jester will lead the planning, delivery, and evaluation of camp programs while managing year-round and seasonal staff, ensuring compliance with all safety standards, and overseeing site operations and rentals. She will also support cross-functional goals such as camper recruitment, grant implementation, and property maintenance, while ensuring all programming remains inclusive, mission-aligned, and responsive to community needs.
Jester brings over 25 years of professional experience in the camping industry. Most recently, she served as Executive Director at YMCA Camp Bernie in Hunterdon County, where she led a broad scope of programming including overnight and day camps, outdoor education, group rentals, and special events. Her creativity and vision have led to the creation of unique and impactful programs such as a Women’s Wellness Weekend and a Zombie Survival Training Camp for teens.
Her leadership background also includes roles at YMCA Camps Speers (PA), Tockwogh (PA), and Ockanickon (Medford, NJ), where she played a vital role in staff development, program innovation, and facility operations. Jester’s passion for camp is matched by her love of the arts. She holds a B.A. in Theatre Tech/Design from Rowan University and volunteers her time as a Perry Award–nominated Costume Designer for ShowKids Invitational Theatre.
For more information about GSHNJ’s camps, visit www.gshnj.org/summercamp.
About Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey
Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey (GSHNJ) believes in the power of every girl. Our leadership program is designed to help girls discover who they are, what they can do, and connect with a powerful community of girls and mentors to make it happen. With unique opportunities, Girl Scouts explore, learn, succeed, and take action to make a difference in their community. Providing over 13,000 girls from kindergarten through 12th grade access to leadership programs and mentors throughout Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Somerset, Union, southern Warren, and parts of Middlesex counties, GSHNJ offers girls a chance to practice a lifetime of leadership. GSHNJ operates two service centers located in North Branch and Westfield and the Girl Scout Leadership Center in Newark as well as three camp locations: Camp Hoover in Middleville, N.J., Camp DeWitt in Hillsborough, N.J., and The OVAL in Maplewood, N.J. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, please visit www.gshnj.org.
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June 02, 2025
