California Summer Camps - Shaffer's High Sierra Summer Camps
Directors and Staff
Directors.
Lisa and Scott Shaffer are the owners and directors of Shaffer's High Sierra Camp. They live about 30 minutes north of San Francisco in the off-season, and have two young sons.Scott
was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area (long enough ago that it would be impolite to ask him when). He has an eclectic background ranging from camp counselor to ski instructor to lawyer to Superior Court Judge Pro Tem. Scott earned his bachelor’s degree in telecommunications and film from San Diego State University and his law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. He practiced law for a number of years, including volunteer work as a Superior Court Judge Pro Tem, before founding Shaffer’s High Sierra Camp.Lisa
graduated from California State University, Northridge with a degree in health education, and from California State University, Chico with her teaching credential. Lisa taught for 9 years various subjects, including English, History, P.E. and coached track at White Hill Middle School in Fairfax, Marin County, California. The last few years, Lisa has taken a leave to spend her time with her boys and to direct the growing Camp.The Shaffers know first hand the lasting and positive value that camp can have on a child’s life and are committed to making each camper’s experience at Shaffer’s High Sierra Camp as fun and rewarding as they would want for their own children.
Program Director.
Kevin DeWeese (aka "J-Tree") worked at the Camp in 2006 as a rock climbing specialist and in 2007 became our Program Director. J-Tree is passionate about climbing and also doubles as our Rock Climbing Director. He holds the coveted Single Pitch Instructor's certification from the American Mountain Guide Association. When not working at Camp, J-Tree teaches English to high school students in the San Francisco Bay Area. We are very pleased to have J-Tree with us as Program Director.Counselors & Activity Specialists.
Typically, the Camp receives about 100 inquiries from around the world for each open position. We've been able to be highly selective and have had some truly exceptional counselors and activity specialists. Every counselor and activity specialist is carefully screened for his/her maturity, judgment, abilities, and enthusiasm. They must be at least 19 years old or 18 with a year of college and have at a minimum certifications in basic first aid and CPR. The Camp also enjoys having international staff for the diversity and new exposure that provides for campers. Each counselor’s top priority is the campers’ physical and emotional safety. (But making sure campers have fun is not far behind.)The Camp is acutely aware of its responsibility for the health and safety of the children attending camp. That concern is reflected in the hiring, training, and retention of staff. For the hiring process, the directors personally interview each potential staff member and personally contact at least two references. Candidates, both domestic and international, then go through a background screening conducted by professional organizations. Program staff then undergo an intense full week of training before camp starts. In addition to clinics on how to run particular activities, training also covers emergency procedures and communications, appropriate and inappropriate camper-staff interaction, handling sensitive issues, and behavior management and conflict resolution. Participation in and observation of activities by the Camp Directors and Program Directors, staff meetings, and in-service training, keep everyone sharp and well informed.
We're committed to creating for our campers a fun and rewarding experience that we know will last long beyond the final day of camp!
(Rev. 4/22/2010)
Operated under a Special-Use Permit on land under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. We provide services, accommodations, and privileges regardless of race, color, creed, gender, religion, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition including genetic characteristics, sexual orientation, or regardless of any perception that anyone has any of those characteristics, or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics, or regardless of any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. Persons are employed on an equal basis to operate, maintain, or construct facilities for public use.
