Programs & Conferences > Summer Leadership Camps

Camp Staff

2023 Camp Staffing Information

Apply to be a CADA Camp Staff Member
Please submit application by April 15 (you may edit submission until April 15, after which, any changes should be emailed to Jeff at jculver@cadaboard.org)
Preliminary Staff Matrix will be sent by May 1
Final Schedules released June 1 (based on registration numbers)

Camp staff members need to have:
-Commitment to students
-Sense of humor, flexibility and stamina
-Willingness to be a participatory role model
-A member of CADA and an interest in student activities
-Valid CA Teaching Credential for Council Leader & Director positions
-Ideally, individuals with experience as an Activities Director will hold Council Leader positions
-At least 18 years of age

If you have any questions, please contact Jeff Culver at j culver@cadaboard.org or (661) 492-3202.

Meet the 2022 Admin Team
Jeff Culver jculver@cadaboard.org Camp Coordinator	Paul Chylinski Loara High School ski.lhs@gmail.com Camp Logistics Director
Monica Anderson Paulding Middle School andersonmonicae@gmail.com Camp Adult Director	Ron Ippolito Rio Norte Junior High School rippolito@cadaboard.org Camp Media/Technology Director
Todd Arrowsmith West Ranch High School tarrowsmith@hartdistrict.org Camp Operations Director	Melissa Edsall Douglass Middle School medsall@cadaboard.org Camp Curriculum Director
2022 Curriculum Team
Ron Ippolito	Verne Johnson
Jessi Lindell
Meet the Camp Staff
Monica Anderson, Adult Director/Adult Council Leader/Council Leader/Office Staff: Monica has been involved with student activities since her junior year in high school when she was selected as Junior class treasurer and she's never looked back. Her involvement in CADA began over 30 years ago. She has taught student leadership at both the middle and high school level. She is now the leadership teacher/activities director at Paulding Middle School.
Todd Arrowsmith, Operations Director: Todd has been a member of CADA for over 27 years and served as a high school and junior high Activities Director for 22 years. He has been a member of the CADA Camp Staff for 27 years and has served as a Council Leader and Director of Operations. He currently serves as the Link Crew Coordinator, Senior Class Advisor and teaches Economics at West Ranch High School in Santa Clarita, CA.. He serves on the CIF Southern Section Executive Board.
Jessica Banchieri, Council Leader/Adult Council Leader/Curriculum: Jessica has been a high school teacher for 20 years and an Activities Director for 14 years. She has been on camp staff for 9 years and was a CADA camper when she was in high school for the Fiesta camp!
Bonnie Bagheri, Council Leader/Adult Council Leader: Bonnie Bagheri Is Activities Director at San Marcos High School in San Diego County. In her tenure, the leadership program has grown from 30 to 150 students and from 1 to 3 teachers. SMHS Students have attended CADA/CASL events for many years and we believe these opportunities have made a huge impact on our campus. Bonnie loves serving on the CADA Camp staff because it is a place to learn and grow each summer. Currently, she serves as the CADA President-Elect.
Donovan Beck, Videographer: Photographer, filmmaker, writer, general human being who likes to make things. Donovan is a working creative and advocate finding the intersection between building communities, de-stigmatizing mental health, and art. Donovan has served a media assistant and speaker for CADA for over 3 years and is excited to continue to connect with students and support the next generation of creative leaders.
Laura Beers, Council Leader: Director of Activities at Crescenta Valley HS, as well Link Crew Coordinator and PBIS Coach. She has been involved with CADA and CADA Camps for close to 20 years.
Christina Carreras, Council Leader: Christina was born and raised in San Jose, California where she currently teaches 7th grade Social Studies, Service Learning, and Leadership along with serving as the Activities Director at Union Middle School. She recently became a mom to daughter Rosalie and is an avid baseball fan. She even named her dog Dodger after her championship team! She loves all things Leadership, currently serving as a member of the Area B Council and really enjoyed my experience as a member of the CADA Camp Staff in 2019. Looking forward to learning along side all of you!
Paul Chylinski, Logistics Director/Council Leader/Camp Director: It's official, I'll be celebrating my 32nd CADA Camp this year. Since my educational birth (1990) I have held the following positions at my school (In Order): Waterpolo / Swim Coach, US History, Psychology / Sociology, ASB Director, World History, AP US History, Conflict Management Advisor, Theory of Knowledge (IB), Yearbook, Student Store, Servathon Chair (district release period). Through CADA I have been on the CASL State Board, Camp Staff (Leader, Large Group, Logistics Director) Area F Council, Communications Director of the State Board and held all 4 President positions. I have spoken in all Area Conferences (student and adults). I received my Master Activities Advisor Certificate and I haven't looked back. I love what I do and who I get to do it with (students and adults, area and state)
Steven Clavijo, Videographer
Raven Coit, Council Leader: Raven Coit has been a teacher (and student) of leadership for twenty years, for the past 10 as Activities Director. She serves on the Area A Council, teaches in the Master Activities Advisor program, and works to support her fellow leadership teachers. When she is not practicing leadership lessons with her team, she's walking dogs on the beach or in the forest of her home in Humboldt County, singing karaoke, reading, quilting, or just enjoying time with friends.
Melissa Collette, Office Staff/Security: Melissa was a CADA Camper her junior & senior years of high school! She loves being a part of the CADA Camp staff and a special part of the students’ experience, which she knows firsthand will always hold a very special place in their hearts. ❤️
Jeff Culver, Camp Coordinator/Council Leader/Adult Council Leader: Jeff first attended CADA Camp in the summers of 1992 and 1993 with the Quartz Hill High School leadership class. A decade later, he became the ASB Advisor at Quartz Hill High School and his first phone call was to Camp Coordinator Jack Ziegler to make sure his students were registered for the summer 2004 camp session. Jeff joined the CADA Camp staff in the summer of 2010, and was hired as the Camp Coordinator in 2015, officially taking over the reigns in summer 2016 with Leadership U: Ministerium Super Se (Service Above Self). He looks forward to spending his summer months with the CADA Camps Family and training student leaders and advisors to positively impact their school campuses.
Jill Culver, Office Staff/Security: Jill became involved with student activities at the elementary and middle school levels before joining the ranks of school administration. Currently an assistant principal at an elementary school, being married to the Camp Coordinator means she gets to spend her very limited summer break at CADA Leadership Camps...and she loves every minute of it!
Jose Duenas, Council Leader/Operations Assistant: CADA/CASL member since 1997. CASL Adult Steering Committee since 1999. ASB/Activities Director at Balboa MS since 1998. I enjoy surfing, road/MTB bicycling and all types of model building.
Melissa Edsall, Council Leader/Adult Council Leader/Curriculum/Camp Director: Melissa has been teaching Middle School for the past 17 years, been the Activity Director at Douglass Middle School for 16 and was lucky enough to join the CADA camp staff her first year teaching. The camp staff has become part of her family! She is also a wife and mom of two boys: Hank and Andy. They love to go on adventures as the #edsallpartyof4
Lauretta Eldridge, Council Leader/Adult Council Leader: Lauretta has been a member of CADA for over 30 years. She has presented at all area conferences and has served as your 2016 EPIC CADA President. She attended CADA Leadership Camp when she was a junior and senior in high school.
Marciano Flores, Council Leader: Marciano has been an educator/school administrator for 20+ years. In that time, he has had the privilege of supporting students' learning needs in a wide variety of roles. One of the most rewarding has been as an Activities Director at both the high school and middle school levels. Currently, he supports the AVID programs at schools in Kern, Kings, and Tulare counties in California as their AVID Program Manager. Having been an AVID teacher for two decades, making his next career journey working within AVID Center was a blessing!
Jo Forsyth, Council Leader
Allison Gadeke, Council Leader/Adult Council Leader/Curriculum: Allison has served as the Student Activities Director at Sierra Middle School in Stockton for the past 25 years. She has also been a member of the CASL Advisory Board, and served for eight years on the CADA Board. Her goal is to provide opportunities for inclusion and for students to grow -- socially, professionally, and academically, through her work in student activities.
Julie Gibson, Council Leader
Jimmy Gleich, Council Leader: 15 years in student activities, Currently the Director of Student Activities at Bishop Gorman HS in Las Vegas, NV. 6th year on camp staff!
Leah Grant, Council Leader
Angie Guerra, Council Leader/Office Staff: Angie taught leadership and activities for 6 years. has worked CADA camp and attended the CADA State Convention for 7 years, and serves on the Area C Council, where she is able to assist at student and adult conferences.
Dr. Kevin Harris, Council Leader: Dr. Kevin is in love with Student Leadership, this love dates back to his high school years, way back in the dinosaur days aka 80's. He was ASB V.P. his Junior year, ASB President his Senior Year, and he graduated with a 3.89 GPA. He has earned his Bachelors in Social Work and Masters in Secondary Education. And completed his doctorate in Educational Leadership, Fall 2021. In his happy little world, Leadership is Love, Leadership has made everything possible, as well Leadership is Lifelong. He has had the honor to serve his alma mater (WUHS Go Panthers) as The Activities Director for seven years, and he now serves as a CADA Area C Council Member; as well as had the joy and honor to serve and or work for NUMERO UNO #1 CADA Leadership Camps since 2006.
Michelle Hendrix, Council Leader: Former CTE Science Educator at Marysville High School. CADA member for over 12 years. 13 years Activities Director with a Master Activities Certification and several Outstanding Activities award winner.
Preston Hickert, Media Assistant: Middle school advisor from Kansas City, Missouri. Previous Missouri Middle Level Advisor of the Year.
Christina Hillman, Council Leader/Curriculum: Christina Hillman just finished her 11th year in education and has been the Activities Director at Branham High School in San Jose for the last 5 years. She serves on the Area B Council and has been a camp staffer for the last 7 years.
Al Hopgood, Council Leader: Hello everyone! I've been teaching leadership for a few years up in Canada. I have attended CADA Camp for the last 7 years. I'm also on the Board Of Directors for British Columbia Student Leadership Association. In my spare time, I work for the Westside Fire & Rescue Dept as a paid on call Captain.
Anthony Hughes, Council Leader: That guy is fun! Known in school and around the area as a guy that has great student events. Leading with a Doctorate in Leadership helping high school students reach their leadership potential.
Joe Hurtado, Council Leader/Operations Assistant: Joe is a 25 year teaching veteran. Being a jack of all trades with credentials in 5 subject areas and a construction background qualifies him for the role of student activities director (which actually has no job description). The CADA Camps and CADA Family have been an integral part of his life for the past 17 years. The icing on the cake has been the opportunity to work with his wife Shannon at Arroyo Grande HS to develop/grow their student leadership program together.
Shannon Hurtado, Council Leader/Adult Council Leader/Camp Director: Shannon Hurtado is the Activities Director and Link Crew coordinator at Arroyo Grande High School (Go Eagles). She's been attending CADA Conference and CADA Camp for the last 19 years and been on staff for 18. As an Area D council member, she's been able to present in her area as well as across the state. A special treat for this leadership teacher is taking students to the CASL Conference each spring and watching amazing young people lead and mentor others. Shannon considers CADA to be her second family and credits this organization for helping develop her leaders on her campus.
Ron Ippolito, Media Technology Director/Council Leader/Camp Director: Ron Ippolito currently serves as the CADA Immediate Past President. He has been participating in CADA events as a high school leadership student, a leadership advisor, a volunteer, and now as a member of the Board of Directors. He is completing his 27th year of teaching in the William S. Hart Union High School District in Santa Clarita, CA. During that time, he has taught seventh grade history, AP US History, economics, US government, as well as serving as an ASB Director at both the middle and high school levels. He currently teaches eighth grade US history and advanced video production at Rio Norte Junior High School.
Delaney Johnson, Media Assistant: Delaney was a part of the camp staff during the summers of 2018-2019 working with the tech department, and loved her job as the camp DJ. She is a student at Brigham Young University in Utah where she is pursuing a history degree.
Verne Johnson, Council Leader/Media Technology Director/Camp Director: Verne just completed his 32nd year as a teacher. He has served as an activities director, a Renaissance advisor, and a vice-principal during that time. He teaches wood shop and social studies and loves being part of CADA Camp.
Kara Johnson, Council Leader/Office Staff: Kara Johnson has been an activities advisor at Knight High School for 14 years. She has been involved in the CADA Camp program for the last six years. Kara served on the CADA board as the Area E Coordinator from 2019-2021. In her spare time Kara enjoys spending time with her husband and five children.
Kim Karr, Council Leader/Camp Director: After 13 years of teaching, Kim now gives students a voice by speaking full time, in fact she is a co-founder of the non-profit program called #ICANHELP. Kim shows students and adults to use technology and social media for good. Kim has been on TikTok since it was first Musically. She includes her celebrity cat, Dickens and anyone who wants to be her friend! “Let’s be TikTok Famous together!”
Karen Lamb, Council Leader: Karen Lamb is a proud member of Area H. She lives in Minden, Nevada just at the base of beautiful Lake Tahoe. She has been the activities director at Douglas High School (where she graduated in 2000) for 17 years. She loves the energy that activities bring to a school and their ability to change a culture. Her favorite thing is the life long relationships she has made with her leadership family, both at DHS and CADA, throughout the years. Karen is a die hard basketball fan (Go Lakers!), loves being an auntie, and enjoys the outdoors and time with the people she loves.
Jessi Lindell, Council Leader: Jessi has been teaching for a lot of years and has been involved with CADA/CASL for the past 9. She is looking forward to her 7th CADA camp season! She loves this special time with amazing leaders.
Isaac Lopez, Council Leader: Entering his 14th year as Activities Director, Isaac hails from the agricultural epicenter of CADA land in Area C. He currently serves on the Area C Council and spends his free time chasing his four ankle biting children and attempting to remove the glitter from the previous school year.
Larry Lopez, Council Leader/Camp Director
John Lucero, Council Leader/Curriculum: Leadership. Activities. Track and Field. Working with students in these three essential areas provide John with great fulfillment. It is his privilege to encourage commitment, teamwork, excellence, and passion as students develop lifelong skills and memories for the present and future. As a retired educator and member of the CADA Hall of Fame, John continues to dedicate himself to providing support for students and peers.
Ruben Martinez, Council Leader: - Teacher at Steele Canyon Charter H.S., Spring Valley, CA (San Diego County): 2003-Present - Mascot Team Co-advisor: 2021-Present - ASB Advisor: 2012-2020 - Class Advisor: 2006-2013 - CADA Camp Council Leader: 2016-Present - CADA Convention and Area Conference Presenter: 2016-Present - CADA Bob Burton Spirit Award: 2017 - CADA Area G Council Member: 2018-Present - CADA Master Activity Advisor Certification (Pending): 2019
Ben Martinez, Council Leader: Ben served on the camp staff from 2017-2019.
Joe McMahon, Council Leader: Joe McMahon has been teaching for 25 years and the Activities Director at Hanford West High School since 2002. He has served on the CADA Area C Council for the past 10 years. Currently serving as the CADA Vice President. He has presented numerous times at the CADA State Convention, attended CASL, worked at CADA Camp as a council leader and taught MAA classes for CADA. His school has hosted the Area C student conference for six years and last year Hanford West was recently recognized by CASL as an Outstanding Leadership Program for the 6th time.
Geniel Moon, Council Leader/Adult Council Leader/Camp Director: Activities Director at Murrieta Valley High School, teaching for 36 years. CADA camp staff for 12 years, member of the Area F council, CADA State board member and currently President.
Lizzy Ng, Media Assistant: Lizzy teaches middle school English and Video Production at Rio Norte Junior High. She has worked with Camps since 2020 and has been involved in area conferences and conventions as well. She loves reading, cooking, the beach, and music!
Wonderly Peralta, Council Leader: Wonderly teaches 8th Grade Math and Leadership. She loves her students and staff and loves life!
Margie Reed, Office Staff/Security
Lindsay Reynoldson, Council Leader: Lindsay Reynoldson is from Kelowna, BC, Canada. She has been a Leadership teacher for 6 years and absolutely loves it! She teaches at Rutland Senior Secondary School and one of her Leadership Events is their pep rallies! She loves when 1500 students are chanting and singing at the same time. It gives her goosebumps! Her favourite activity to do outside of school is Volleyball and she is the Senior Girls' Volleyball coach at the high school. This will be her fourth year at the CADA summer camp and her 3rd year working with the best staff ever!
Farrah Rigo-Witt, Council Leader/Curriculum/Camp Director: Farrah has worked in activities for over 22 years. She has been a cheer, club and class advisor and is now the ASB director at her alma mater. Farrah has been a presenter at both CADA adult and student conferences and has been a part of the CADA camp staff since 2006.
Anna Ripken, Office Staff/Security: I have been a teacher at Lammerville Elementary School for 25 years. I have been doing Activities at our K-8 school for 19 years. I have been working for CADA Camps for 18 years. I have been a Council Leader at camp, but have been in the office for longer. I love to travel. I have been to Ireland, Scotland, and Christmas Markets in Southern Germany. Hawaii is my happy place I travel to each summer. I love my 2 cats, Weber and Zazzy, and working with my CADA family each summer.
Janet Roberts, Council Leader/Adult Council Leader/Curriculum/Camp Director: Janet has worked on the CADA camp staff for over 25 years. She is a past CADA President and was an Activities Director at both Dimond Bar High School and Chino Hills High School for 38 years. She has presented workshops in every CADA area and throughout the United States. Janet has a passion for art, the beach and spreading kindness.
Laura Saldana, Council Leader/Adult Council Leader/Curriculum/Camp Director: Laura Saldaña has been involved in student activities for 15 years, 12 of which as an Activities Director at both the middle school and high school level. She is currently proud to be the Activities Director at Westmont High School in Campbell, CA in Area B. Laura is on the Area B Council and 2019 winner of the Bob Burton Spirit Award. Laura is mom to two adorable children who are 1 and 5 years old.
Stu Shaffer, Presenter
Ruth Simonds, Council Leader: Ruth Simonds has been a Social Studies teacher for 24 years. She has been involved with Activities in some capacity during most of her career. She teaches at Quartz Hill High School and has been the Senior Class Adviser for the past seven years. She has been the Advisor for the American Cancer Society Club for more than 10 years. She is also involved with #icanhelp and is currently starting a club on her campus. She currently serves as the Area E Coordinator. She has presented at the Area E Advisor Conference, the CADA Convention, and this will be my fifth year on the staff of CADA Camp.
MJ Smith, Council Leader/Adult Council Leader: Mary Jane 'MJ' Smith has been involved in Activities for the past 25+ years serving as Activities Director, Renaissance and Class Advisor. She loves taking her students to camp, CASL, and leadership conferences where they have an opportunity to find their “why” in leadership and life. MJ has been mentoring and sharing with newer advisors at the CADA Convention for over 15 years. She also loves to share her passion of creating a positive school culture of kindness as she presents at CADA and CARE student conferences throughout the state. MJ believes that we all need to continually learn and share, but most importantly we need to have fun while doing what we love! She currently serves as an Assistant Principal at Diamond Ranch High and is on the CADA Area E Council, the CADA Summer Leadership Camp Staff and has served on the CADA State Board as a past Area Coordinator.
Bryan Speed, Council Leader/Curriculum: Speed has been an Activities Director for past 7 years. His career has taken him all over the state from LA to the Bay, and now to the Central Valley. He currently serves on the Area C council helping to plan leadership development opportunities for the students and advisers of the central valley. His ASB Leadership roots run deep, he was involved in ASB all 4-years of high school, and his time as a student leader inspired him to pursue a career in education with the goal of one day becoming an Activities Director. He currently serves as the Activities Director and Leadership Teacher at Matilda Torres High School in Madera, CA. He had the opportunity to attend CADA Camp, CASL, and many area conferences as a student, and is excited for the opportunity to give back as an Advisor!
Corissa Stobing, Council Leader/Adult Council Leader/Media Technology Director: Corissa is the Activities Director at Ygnacio Valley High School in Concord, CA. She started the cool trend of Welcome Week to get schools to leave backpacks at home the first few days of school to get to know the students and staff and truly create a positive campus environment. Corissa is a Fan Girl of all things Harry Potter, Hamilton, Disney and of course her twin 9 year old boys. Her super powers are strong when it comes to researching online. She is actively involved in CADA, and brings her students to Camp and CASL.
Le Ann Straehle, Council Leader: I’ve been teaching leadership for the past 14 years. I have been active in CADA for seven years and this will be my fifth year working CADA/CASL camp. I just finished my MAA and also received my certification through WACA. In Washington, I’ve been active in AWSL for over fifteen years and I am the director of Northern Peak Leadership Camp in Chewelah, Washington.
Cari Strange, Council Leader: Cari Strange has been teaching for 27 years and has been an activities director at Temescal Canyon High school for the past 15 years. Her ASB program started off with 35 students and 1 ASB class. She has since grown it into an ASB department with over 200 students and 6 ASB classes & 5 teachers. Her students have presented at CASL, attended CADA camps and have earned the Outstanding Leadership program award for the past 10 years. Cari believes in inclusiveness in leadership and wants to provide an opportunity for as many students as possible to become leaders who positively influence their school.
Erin Tobias, Council Leader/Adult Council Leader: Erin has been a teacher and CADA member for 16 years, and is currently the Activities Director at Dinuba High School. She has been a part of the camp staff for the past 8 years and has attended CASL with her students for the past 5. CADA has become a part of her everyday routine and attributes her school's success to her support and ideas from her CADA family! She loves student activities and providing opportunities for students to get involved and make a positive impact on the lives around them.
Ryan Wakefield, Council Leader: Ryan is a school administrator from the Great White North (AKA - CANADA). I have been involved in student activities for the past 15 years as a leadership advisor, Provinical student activities board member (BCASAA), workshop presenter and conference planner. I have been involved with the CADA/CASL organization for over 10 years.
Lisa Walters, Council Leader: Lisa Walters is an Activity Director/Social Science teacher who believes that training young leaders and supporting other adults in training young leaders is vitally important for the future of our schools, communities, state, and world. She has been a CADA member for 18 years, has served as the CADA Area D coordinator for the past 4 years, and as a member of CADA Camp Staff for several years. She has presented at the CADA Convention, as well as Area D Student and Advisor workshops. She believes wholeheartedly in the programs of CADA/CASL and in her CADA family to make a difference for the future!
Fran Whitney, Office Staff
Judy Zazvrskey, Council Leader: After many years of working with student leaders, as Student Activity Director, Judy retired from teaching in June 2021. It has been a bittersweet time of reflection, and moving into new areas of service. She has been a member of CADA for 40 years, and now serving as Area G Coordinator, she is enjoying the challenge of getting involved on a different level. Judy has organized and worked many youth camps over the years; she loves teenagers!