Directors and Support Staff

 Directors and Support Staff

Skylake Leadership

  • Jeff

    Jeff Portnoy

    Co-Owner and Co-Director

    Jeff graduated from U.C. Berkeley (’69) and the University of Santa Clara Law School (’72). He has been involved with Skylake since 1984, first as a parent when his daughters began to attend Skylake as campers, and then as the owner/director since 1995. Jeff resides in Marin County with his wife Bonnie during the off season.

    Jeff has three primary goals as the director:

    1. Every child is safe both physically and emotionally in their camp experience

    2. Every child experiences the simple and pure joy of a true summer camp experience

    3. Every child returns home happier and more confident

  • ADRIENNE PORTNOY-DURGIN

    Adrienne Portnoy-Durgin

    Co-Director

    Adrienne Portnoy-Durgin has lived, breathed, and dreamed Skylake most of her life. She first attended Skylake as a 9 year old camper and spent the next 15 summers at Skylake as Camper, CILT, Jr. Staff, Counselor and CILT Director. After graduating from the University of Arizona, Adrienne relocated to Lake Tahoe where she focused on a career in Special Events and Hotel Sales & Marketing. In 2010, Adrienne returned to Skylake as the Assistant Director and now loves calling Camp her full time career and passion in life as Co-Director. When Skylake is not in session, Adrienne and her husband Mark, live in Truckee, Ca where they are raising their three sons, Jacob, Miles and Asher.

  • Jessica Portnoy-Sonka

    Jessica Portnoy

    Administrative Director

    Jessica Portnoy Sonka spent her first magical summer at Skylake as Chickadee in 1985. She hopped on the bus at age 7 for an adventure that turned into 10 incredible summers as a Camper and CILT, followed by 5 more summers as Jr. Staff, Counselor, Girls Head Counselor and Kitchen Manager. Jessica graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a degree in Anthropology, and went on to earn her Master of Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Reno. After dedicating many years contributing to the success of some great non-profit organizations, Jessica felt a yearning to return to Skylake full time in 2016. She lives in beautiful North Lake Tahoe with her husband Matthew, son Noah, and daughter Morgan.

  • Paul Laspada

    Paul Laspada

    PM Director and Year Round Site Manager

    Paul LaSpada graduated from Fresno Pacific University with a BA in Organizational Leadership. He had been in the restaurant industry for the past 30+ years before joining Skylake in 2016. Paul and his family have lived in the beautiful foothills around Skylake for over 11 years and enjoy the mountain life. They live on a little ranch where they raise horses, chickens, sheep and goats. Paul's wife Sandy is a teacher and they have 3 beautiful children: Paul Jr. (PJ), Drew and Abigail. While new to Skylake, Paul fell instantly in love and wants to do everything possible to maintain the traditions and culture of Skylake Yosemite Camp.

  • Jon Moore

    Jon Moore

    Senior Advisor

    Jon Moore first came to Skylake in 1971. His intimate knowledge of all that is Skylake comes from over 25 seasons as a camper, a counselor and a director. He did his undergraduate studies at Pomona College and earned a master's degree in physical education from California State University - Fullerton. He currently lives in Alameda, California, with his wife, Beth, and two daughters, Emma and Abby.

     

Summer Leadership

  • Riley Riordan

    Riley Riordan

    Office and Leadership Support

    Riley Riordan is a Spring 2017 graduate from DePauw University in Indiana, with her BA in Psychology. Riley grew up outside of Sacramento, California before moving to the mid-west for the last six years. She was a camper for 2 years before coming full circle to be back on staff 10 years later. 2019 is Riley's 5th consecutive summer working at Skylake. Riley is excited to experience the adventure in figuring out what her future holds. Riley is thrilled to return for another summer with familiar faces, first-time campers, Skylake magic and new memories to be created. Riley has been working at Skylake's Tahoe office during the off season and cannot wait to return to camp this summer!

  • Laura Broadfoot

    Laura Broadfoot

    Head Girls Counselor

    Laura Broadfoot is a Spring 2017 graduate from Wichita State University in Kansas, with a BA in Early childhood education, Elementary education and Special education. Laura was born and raised and currently lives in Wichita, Kansas. Laura started her career two years ago teaching prekindergarten and is now taking on the role of a first grade teacher. Laura enjoys getting to travel in her spare time, especially the adventures of the outdoors. Summer of 2019 will be Laura’s 4th consecutive summer working at Skylake. Her first year at Skylake she was the head lifeguard, the following two years she took on waterfront director and for her 4th year she will be our head girls counselor. Laura truly enjoys and looks forward to building positive relationships and making countless memories with campers and staff.

  • Matt Wallock

    Head Boys Counselor

    Matt Wallock first fell in love with Skylake back in 2006 as a 10 year old, Bobcat. Matthew was a counselor at Skylake in 2016 and is extremely excited to return to camp as Head Boys Counselor for the second year in a row, his 10th year at Skylake! Matt's goal is to make camp as fun and inclusive as possible, and specifically to make boys camp run smoothly. Matt grew up in Santa Barbara, graduated from Wesleyan University in CT, and has recently worked in music journalism and communications consulting. He is now looking forward to another summer of Skylake magic!

  • Chris Goodman

    Chris Goodman

    Head Waterfront

    Update coming soon on Chris!

     

     

     

  • Jack Goodman

    Jack Goodman

    Head Activities

    Jack Goodman is a fourth-year student at Carleton University in Ottawa, ON. He is studying Interactive Multimedia Design, which involves working on designing video games. This summer will be his fourth year on staff, and eighth summer at Skylake. Jack and his twin brother Christopher both started as campers in 2008. The past three summers he spent on the waterfront, however this summer he is excited to be working as the Activities Director! Jack looks forward to planning and managing all the fun activities that the kids will get to enjoy.

  • Camero Bungo

    Camero Bungo

    Trips Coordinator

    Cam Bugno Graduated from Azusa Pacific University in 2017 with a degree in Philosophy. He discovered his passion for the outdoors growing up on a farm in a small town in Indiana. He spent most of his childhood running around in the woods surrounding his parents home. Cam then discovered his passion for backpacking while at a study abroad program where he backpacked in the Yosemite high country. After that year in Yosemite Cam worked with his university Outdoor Program where he helped with trips taking his fellow students on hikes, backpacking, and rock climbing. Last summer, his first summer at Skylake, Cam was on the Trips staff and enjoyed every minute of it. This summer Cam is excited to return to Skylake as the Trips Coordinator where he hopes to instill a lasting love and respect for the outdoors in the campers. 

  • Dylan Lynch

    Dylan Lynch

    Office and Leadership Support

    Dylan Lynch comes from what is known as The Land of the Long White Cloud –  New Zealand! He graduated from the University of Technology in 2015 with a Bachelor of Sports Management. Dylan is a very people orientated person and has a background in early childhood fundamental skills coaching. Since 2016, Dylan has been part of the Skylake family and this is something he is very humbled by. This year will mark Dylan’s 4th summer at Skylake and 8th consecutive season of summer! He is excited for his role on staff and cannot wait to bring his classic Kiwi can do attitude back to Skylake once more.

  • Cassidy Evanson

    Head Lifeguard

    Update on Cassidy coming soon! 

Counselors

Skylake will have 65 counselors this summer. Counselors are required to have obtained their Lifeguarding, First Aid, and CPR certifications. In addition all staff attend 6 days of on-site staff training immediately preceding the arrival of the campers. Skylake counselors have both the responsibility of being cabin counselors for the 32 cabins and for running a specific activity. Our Trips Counselors additionally are required to have Wilderness First Aid Certifications. All of the Skylake counselors are college students or who have already graduated. The hiring process includes interviews, reference checks, and full criminal background checks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Skylake Yosemite Camp
Since 1945
  
accredited
37976 Road 222 • Wishon, CA 93669 • USA • (559) 642-3720

 

Skylake Yosemite Camp is a traditional California summer camp for children located almost equal distance between San Francisco and Los Angeles. The camp is located in the Sierra National Forest on Bass Lake, 15 miles from Yosemite National Park. Skylake is celebrating 75 years in 2020!

Skylake Yosemite Camp is operated under a Special Use Permit with the Sierra National Forest.  In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, Skylake Yosemite Camp is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. Skylake proudly adheres to that policy.