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

Hello, my name is Nicolas Conway, I am from Southern California, specifically the Valley. I have a Deaf parent and am an older brother to three CODAs(Children of Deaf Adults). I graduated from Ohlone Community College with Associate Degrees in Liberal Arts, Human Development, and a Deaf Education certificate. I possessed a Bachelor of Arts degree from California University of Northridge, majoring in Pre-Deaf Education. From Gallaudet University, I graduated with a Master of Arts in Deaf Education Studies. In my current lens, I am a high school Student Support Liaison(serve as a liaison between teachers, parents, students, support staff and the community regarding educational programs, services and various student issues; assist in coordinating and arranging various programs and services to meet the needs of students) and Varsity Special Team football coach at California School for the Deaf, Fremont. Go Eagles!! I am emphasizing inclusiveness of all, communication access for all, and protecting culture, social, and language deprivation for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf Disabled, and Deaf Blind.
I used to be an actor of Deaf West partnered with Center Theatre Group, Deafinit model, and background actor for Switched at Birth. I was a Supported Living Specialist then promoted to a facilitator for Independent Living Skills of Toolworks, continuing to support Deaf Plus Adults in the Bay Area as of now. I was the Pledge Grand Master of Kappa Sigma in the Zeta class, President and Public Relation of Ohlone’s American Sign Language Club, President of Deaf Studies Association at CSUN, and Director of Events in the Graduate Student Association at Gallaudet. I was the Master of Ceremonies a couple of times for the MATA Expo. I attended Lions Camp for four years as a camper and resumed back here in my adult life as a Counselor, then Unit Counselor/Sports Instructor, 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 structure since I am a profoundly culturally rooted raised Deaf centric leader who contains broad knowledge in many fields.
Leslie Manjarrez

My name is 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. I have over 10 years of experience in Deaf education which spans infant to adult within a variety of environments from in-person, in-home, in-school classrooms, and virtual online instruction. I hold degrees from the University of California San Diego: a B.S. in Biology and a M.A. in Education Studies, Teaching, and Learning (Bilingual Education-ASL). In addition, I hold continuing education certificates. One for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Infants, Toddlers, and Families(ITF): Collaboration and Leadership from Gallaudet University and a second one in Child Life from University of California, Santa Barbara. I completed an in-person clinical Child Life Practicum at UCSF in 2021. 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. Currently I work as a Teacher of the Deaf, a Health Educator and part time as an Interpreter in addition to my work with Camp.
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.