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 teenage sons.
Scott
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
Lisa graduated from California State University, Northridge with a degree in health education, and from California State University, Chico with her teaching credential. After graduation, Lisa taught middle school for eight years in Marin County, California. Since 2001, Lisa has directed camp year-round and her vision is that Camp is a place where each camper and staff member will grow and thrive.
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 two children.
Bridget
Bridget is our Assistant Director and has been with Shaffer's High Sierra Camp since 2009. She graduated from Chico State and earned her Masters degrees in Interdisciplinary Studies: Wilderness Therapy. Bridget's year-round role includes talking with parents, hiring and managing staff, and overseeing our summer program. During the summer season, she'll also lead an occasional mountain bike ride or overnight adventure. Bridget is passionate about outdoor education and the opportunity camp provides for campers to grow and connect with others in a safe environment.
Counselors & Activity Specialists
Typically, the Camp receives about 30 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 most need certification 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!