Camp staff is composed of qualified administrative and activity coordinators, counselors and Volunteers. They must be over 18 years of age and fluent in sign language. Counselors are selected from qualified students, teachers, deaf adults and dedicated Lions. Many were once Wilderness Campers themselves. One counselor is provided for each five campers. A special Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program is provided 16-17 year olds who would like to gain the skills and experience to be future staff members. They are given training in various skills and work in groups with qualified counselors. Applications are available online.
Camp Program CoDirectors
Nicolas Conway
I am from Southern California, specifically the Valley. I have a Deaf parent and am an older brother to three Children of Deaf Adults. I am attending California University of Northridge, majoring in Pre-Deaf Education. I graduated from Ohlone Community College with Liberal Arts, Human Development, and Deaf Education. I have worked in a variety of jobs in the community such as Elementary Cottage Counselor Assistant and K-12 Bus Escort at California School for the Deaf, Fremont. I was a football coach, peer mentor and tutor. I was a Master of Ceremonies for Ohlone and MATA Exposition. I am emphasizing inclusiveness of all, communication access for all, and protects culture, social, and language deprivation for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf Disabled, and Deaf Blind.
I was an actor of Deaf West Center Theatre Group, Deafinit model, and background actor for Switched at Birth. I was a Supported Living Specialist then to a facilitator for Independent Living Skills of Toolworks, supported Deaf Plus in Bay Area. I was the president of Ohlone’s American Sign Language Club. I attended Lions Camp for four years as a camper and resumed back here in my adult life as a Counselor, then Unit Counselor, and now your Co-Director. I will deliver and provide the best camp experience for your children, staff, and volunteers with the coverage, stimulations, and structural since I am a profoundly culturally rooted raised Deaf centric leader who contains broad knowledge in many fields.
Leslie Manjarrez
I am a hearing individual, born and raised California girl: Born in San Diego, lived in a small rural town in the Imperial Valley, now living in San Francisco. I have worked over the last seven years as a professional in Deaf Ed and have been part of Lions Wilderness Camp in various roles since 2009. I have the honor of having developed strong friendships over the years through Camp and worked in my professional training with a strong Bilingual-Bicultural(ASL-English) lens for Deaf students. Over the years my background and continuing education has expanded my lens to continue the work to become as inclusive as possible within all environments.
Our Deaf and Hard of Hearing children are as diverse as the cities we each live in and I hope to continue to learn skills to best support them all with a lens on equity and justice. I am here as a resource to support your child with their experience through Lion’s Wilderness Camp for Deaf Children and for them to feel welcomed and included in Camp. I am also trilingual in ASL, English and Spanish should you need such support. Life is a marathon, not a sprint. My door is always open. We should never lose our sense of wonder. These are mantras that I live everyday and hope to share with everyone who comes to Camp during the Summer as your Co-Director.
Employment Opportunities
Interested individuals from age 18 and above who are fluent in ASL (American Sign Language) and can move along the Signed Communication continuum are encouraged to apply for employment at camp. Various positions are available: counselors; activity staff; security; interpreters; administrative staff; instructors (must have current and valid license or certificate to be lifeguards-both at pool and lakes, archery instructor, etc.) and volunteers are warmly welcomed. All participants must uphold the social theme of inclusion. Information forms are available for download.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers shall be utilized to the maximum extent possible based upon their qualifications and desires as stated on the Online Program Staff Application (Paid & Volunteer) or the Online Support Volunteer Application. Volunteers may be used in any position at camp without exception, however, the prime consideration is to provide the highest quality camp experience possible with an underlying purpose of providing employment for members of the Deaf community. Qualified members of the Deaf community shall be used in the majority of the camp activities and counselor staff positions. Vacant positions shall be first filled by qualified Lion volunteers, then by qualified non-Lion volunteers, and finally by qualified paid staff. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old and those under the age of 18 must be accompanied and under the direct supervision of an adult parent or guardian at all times while at camp. Information forms for volunteer positions are available for download.