Camp Sheppard High Adventure Base Staff

Trek Offerings

Trek Staff

The Camp Sheppard High Adventure Base Trek Staff meets and in some cases exceeds the National BSA Standards for High Adventure Programs. They have led hundreds of exciting, challenging and successful alpine treks in the magnificent Washington state wilderness. The combined staff has been to mountain summits above 10,000 feet over 75 times. They have expertise in mountaineering, rock climbing, mountain biking, backpacking, navigation, Leave No Trace, first aid as well as search and rescue plus much more. The Base Director maintains what some consider as the finest High Adventure Staff in the nation.

Pat Tobin - Base Director	Bill Rengstorf - Program Advisor	Denny Fenstermaker - Climbing Director	Lynn Smith - Lead Instructor
Before coming to Camp Sheppard, Pat served on the Camp Brinkley Staff from 1994-2001. There he worked as the Beach Director and multi talented go-to staffer. He then completed the Colorado Outdoor Adventure Guide School and worked as a Professional Outfitter. Pat's been on over twenty 50-mile hikes including the 92-mile Wonderland Trail in 3 days and has climbed most of the major peaks in Washington State. He's coached Little League Baseball, played rugby, football, wrestled and ran track. Pat also enjoys fly fishing, mountain biking, horseback riding and hunting. His previous job was the Director of Outdoor Education at the Crater Lake School in southern Oregon. Their focus was using camping, hiking and climbing as a tool for teaching responsibility and team-work. At Camp Sheppard, Pat is responsible for all aspects of program over sight including program and staff development and procedures, program promotion, registration, instruction, equipment, transportation, safety, facilities and budgets. He is a certified; Front Country and Wilderness EMT plus a Leave No Trace Master Educator.	Bill has been registered with the Chief Seattle Council for more then 50 years. He is a charter member of the Camp Sheppard High Adventure Staff beginning in 1966. Bill has led many hikes in the Cascade and Olympic Mountains plus climbed many of the state’s major peaks including 4 climbs of Mt. Rainier. He’s also a long time member and leader of the Seattle Explorer Search and Rescue unit and Seattle Mountain Rescue where he’s participated on over 300 search and rescue missions for the county sheriff’s department. Bill has education in engineering and business. He has leadership experience with systems design and management. Bill focuses on program and staff development, program promotion and procedures.	Denny began his high adventure experience as a Scout on one of the Camp Sheppard treks in the late 60’s. He was so impressed with the program that he later applied for a staff position and soon worked his way to senior staff in 5 years. This included leading many hikes and climbs at a young age including 28 summits of Mt. Rainier. Denny also served as a very accomplished Field Leader with the Seattle Explorer Search and Rescue and Seattle Mountain Rescue units. During this time he climbed Alaska’s famous 20,320’ ft, Mt. McKinley as well many northwest classic peak’s technical routes. Denny also serves as a senior fire service officer in the Seattle Fire Department where he is a seasoned instructor and founder of their Technical Rescue Team beginning in 1990. Denny has completed the National Outdoor Leadership School course. Denny’s focus is on all aspects of staff and trekker climbing instruction, equipment, logistics and routes.	Lynn has been a CSHAB Lead Instructor for 7 years. She’s done many 50 milers and is an avid rock, snow and ice climber of Washington peaks as well as in Canada, France, Oregon, California, Texas and Colorado. She has faithfully led our climbs on Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker for the last 3 years and has completed Explorer Search and Rescue, BSA Climbing Instructor and Trek Leader training. Typical of our staff members, Lynn is fun, exercises good judgment and always has the best interest of trekkers in mind. She has degrees in math and french. Lynn loves to teach.
Peter Fisher - Mt. Bike Advisor	Rob Healy - Lead Instructor	Haley Ward - Lead Instructor	Chris Pearson - Senior Instructor
Peter is an expert mountain bike rider, racer and instructor. As owner of Black Diamond Bike and Backcountry, he serves as our bike program sponsor, bike provider, trail expert and trek leader. Peter has an excellent report with young people and is a Venture Crew Advisor.	Rob joined the CSHAB staff in 2006. He’s already climbed Mt Rainier, Mt. Adams and Mt Baker multiple times. Rob is a BSA Climbing Instructor, Explorer Search and Rescue Team Leader and an Eagle Scout with many hikes and backpack trips under his boots. His Eagle project was to coordinate the repair of a forest fire lookout that was at the top of a 3 mile, 3800 foot trail climb. Rob is very well organized and a fine leader.	Hayley studies at Southern Oregon University and is perusing her degrees in Outdoor Adventure Leadership and Spanish. She grew up with a love for the outdoors and is working towards developing it into a professional career. Hayley has had many opportunities to facilitate and guide trips for the Outdoor Program at SOU. Hayley enjoys rock climbing, mountaineering, running the river, and is always looking for new adventures outside. She is working toward her WFR and LNT certifications. Hayley is very social and loves to spend time with people. Her main priority is to put her clients before herself and help them to achieve their goals while having fun in the outdoor.	Chris started on camp staff in 1995 and High Adventure Base Staff in 2000 leading mountain bike, backpack and combo treks including a summer at Sea Base in 2003 as a Kayak Guide. He has also served as Head Cook, Asst. Camp Director, OA Chapter Advisor, District Training Chair and currently as the Council Outdoor Ethics Advocate. Chris's passion for the outdoors and kids has driven him to a career as an outdoor educator working for local private programs when not at Sheppard Base. His spare time is spent wandering through the Alpine Lakes Wilderness or kayaking the San Juan Islands. Chris is a Wilderness First Responder and Leave No Trace Master Educator.
Mark D'haem - Senior Instructor	Brett Gombasy - Instructor	Leah Tobin - Lead Instructor
Mark is a full time teacher during the off-season at Eagle Point High School in Oregon and specializes in earth science plus backpacking as a member of the Camp Sheppard High Adventure Base Staff. He’s also taught many kids about outdoor living at the Crater Lake School in Southern Oregon before becoming a member of the staff. Mark loves to lead long term backpack treks where he can spend all week turning the wilderness into an amazing outdoor classroom.	Brett is from the Seattle area and came to us after attending one of our Mount Rainier Expeditionary Climbs as a Trekker. He’s been very active as a troop leader on local backpack treks as well as at Philmont and learning at Sea Base. Brett enjoys other kinds of HA activities including rock climbing and mountain biking. He is an Eagle Scout and is studying to go into Fire Service at a Western Washington University. Brett is excited and pleased to pass on his many outdoor skills to new trekkers.	Leah began scouting as an Explorer where served as Post President from 1994-99, organized many outings and attended Philmont in 1997. She staffed at Buck Creek Camp 1994 –95 and at Camp Brinkley from 99-02 as Archery Director and Shooting Sports Director at Brinkley and Pigott. Leah was the Venture Crew Advisor at Crater Lake School and has completed training including Wilderness EMT, Wood Badge, LNT Trainer and Mountaineering Instructor. Leah is currently a highly trained Firefighter EMT with the Greenwater Fire Department where she has participated in many rescues including high angle, swift water and backcountry extrications. She is also the department’s secretary and the Volunteer Fire Firefighters Association president. Leah inherited her passion for the outdoors by hunting, fishing and hiking with her family. She has enjoyed many hikes and 50-milers throughout Washington in both the Olympics and Cascades including climbs of Mt. Baker, Mt. Adams and Mt. Rainier. Leah has been the Business Manager at Camp Sheppard since 2004. She is very organized and loves to share her knowledge about the outdoors and the scouting program with others.
Camp Sheppard High Adventure Base Staff have the opportunity to receive financial assistance to further their education through the Max Eckenburg Trust (MET). The MET is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the CSHAB program staff as they serve scouts and receive training for future careers. The MET accepts contributions to this end. Please visit the MET website to learn more about the Max Eckenburg Trust and how you can help.