‘Parent Liaisons’ Make All the Difference at Dovi’s CGI Florida

It might seem like a given, but the position of parent liaison is actually new at Dovi’s CGI Florida, and the only one of its kind in any Lubavitch overnight camp, earning rave reviews from parents, campers, and staff alike.

It’s no secret: a summer at Dovi’s CGI Florida is a fun, memorable experience for every camper. The trips, learning classes, dedicated staff, and full slate of daily programs and sports combine to create a summer boys look forward to year after year. Beyond these familiar highlights, CGI Florida has also introduced a number of forward-thinking initiatives that have set it apart.

Under the leadership of Rabbi Yosef Y. Biston, Director of Chabad of North Broward-South Palm Beach, and Camp Director Rabbi Yossi Goldblatt, Dovi’s CGI Florida has grown steadily, guided by a clear and ambitious vision. In recent years alone, the camp has expanded with the purchase of a new 100-acre campground and the launch of a dedicated Bar Mitzvah division, developments that have firmly placed it on the map of Chabad summer options.

Alongside that growth has come a strong focus on camper wellbeing, with thoughtful details such as delicious meals and a salad bar at lunch and dinner, expansive campus amenities, and a robust support system for children, elements that may seem small, but can make a world of difference to a camper.

With this growth has come a deeper investment in camper care. One such initiative, introduced in recent years, is the parent liaison program: a dedicated couple tasked with serving as a direct bridge between parents, campers, and staff. The result is a smoother, more supportive summer experience for campers and parents, and even for the staff.

“In the past, parents who wanted to reach their children had to go through the front office or the counselors,” explains Rabbi Yossi Biston. “The same was true in the other direction. Requests, check-ins, and important information had to move through several layers, often making communication slower and less efficient.”

To address this need head-on, Dovi’s CGI Florida created a dedicated parent liaison role, bringing Rabbi Lev and Dassy Cotlar on board as a trusted, consistent point of contact between camp and home. Rabbi Lev, who serves during the year as Assistant Principal at Lubavitch Hebrew Academy in Florida, brings deep experience in chinuch, while Mrs. Cotlar is widely appreciated for her warmth, attentiveness, and genuine care for each camper.

Now heading into their fourth summer in this role, the Cotlars have become an indispensable part of the camp experience, earning enthusiastic feedback from parents year after year.“Rabbi and Mrs. Cotlar are nothing short of summer heroes, both for the boys and for their parents,” shared Aharon and Tali Vasquez. “We feel much more confident sending our boys to camp knowing the Cotlars are there.”

Rabbi Lev explains that in their role, they serve as the central address for anything a parent may need for their child during the summer. Parents can reach out directly, knowing their concerns will be handled promptly and thoughtfully.

“Camp can feel like a black hole for parents,” he explains. “They send their child off, maybe get a quick phone call before Shabbos, and that short call doesn’t always reflect the full picture.”

Often, a brief, overwhelmed phone call can unintentionally heighten anxiety on both sides. The parent liaison steps in to provide context and clarity, grounded in real, ongoing interaction with the camper.

“We’re able to tell parents, ‘We’ve spoken to your son. He’s doing well. Yes, there’s some homesickness, but we’re working through it.’ That perspective makes all the difference.”
“For a child to succeed, everyone has to be aligned, the parents, the counselors, and the support staff,” he continues. “Parents know their child best. Counselors are with them 24/7. And we’re there constantly as well, with the perspective of educators and parents. We refer to it as the ‘triangle of care.’”

This system, Mrs. Cotlar notes, benefits not only families but the camp staff as well.

“Staff are no longer expected to serve as intermediaries between parents and campers or to manage individual requests,” she explains. “This allows our counselors and staff to focus on what they do best—ensuring that every boy has a fun, positive, and truly fulfilling summer, both b’gashmius and b’ruchnius.

“There are incredible directors, head counselors, and staff,” she explains, “but this role focuses specifically on the social and emotional wellbeing of the campers, and on guiding parents through that experience as well.”

And the staff members couldn’t agree more.“One of the many benefits of being a counselor at CGI Florida is having Rabbi and Rebbetzin Cotlar on-site. I feel incredibly lucky and grateful to have them as a resource during the summer,” shares Ez Goldman, a counselor in CGI Florida. “They help ensure that every camper feels secure, supported, and happy.”

In today’s camp environment, where emotional needs and expectations are higher than ever, the Cotlars say this role has become indispensable.

“Emotional needs are greater today. Anxiety is higher. Expectations are different,” Rabbi Lev says. “That doesn’t mean something is wrong, it means camps need to adapt.”The parent liaison role, he believes, is not a luxury, but a necessary evolution.

“Once you have this position,” he says, “you wonder how camps ever functioned without it.”And the parents agree.”Our 9-year-old was so homesick at first, we thought we’d have to bring him home. But thanks to Rabbi Lev and Dassy, he stayed, and ended up loving camp. Their presence made all the difference,” Rabbi Avrohom and Ayelet Rimler said. “Every camp needs a Rabbi Lev and Dassy!”