Camp Staff

Meet our Camp Staff

Most of our staff are volunteers, or are able to have the planning and week of Range Camp be part of their normal job. As such, we are able to keep camp costs down.  Our goal is to have at least one "staff" per four campers. This allows us to ensure we have enough adults for our two days off Elkus as well as be able to spread adults out over the ranch and help campers with different activities.  Our Camp Director and Assistant Director are at Camp all week as well as our only paid staff - health supervisor, counselors (male and female counselors at a minimum), and of course our camp chef. Throughout the week we will have different professionals in Rangeland Management come through to help as speakers as well as moderators for camp.  

Every adult who is there with campers is fingerprinted, background checked and first aid trained.  We follow all of the University of California guidelines on working with youth (same as the 4-H program) which include the background checks, training on working with youth, mandatory reporting, and first aid to name a few.  We take you entrusting your child with us for the week seriously.  

Director: Theresa Becchetti 

Theresa has been involved with Range Camp since 2003 and has been the co-Director and Director for six years.  She will often be seen in the back of the room making sure all the i's are dotted and t's are crossed and everything moves smoothly.  Theresa has been the Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor in Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties since 2002.  Every year she looks forward to seeing how the campers take what is taught them and go out into the world.  Many campers never thought of a career in Rangelands before camp.  

Julie also has a long history with Range Camp, coming as the female counselor with her husband as the male counselor back in 2003 and soon becoming an integral part of the planning team and has been the Assistant Director for ten years.  Julie is the Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor in Kern, Kings, and Tulare Counties since 2012. Julie loves coming to camp to not only enjoy the cooler June temperatures of the north coast, but also to watch the lightbulbs come on in kids as they learn more about their natural world around them and how we can manage the landscape.  

Chef Marty has operated Aurora Catering since 2008 and has been with us at Camp since 2009. Chef Marty's highlight at camp is bonding with the campers during kitchen duty, where he shares his passion for food and teaches them about food & flavor paintings.  If Chef Marty suggests trying something, don't hesitate - just dive in and enjoy his creativity.

Health Supervisor aka Camp Nurse - unfortunately we lost our "Nurse Jennifer" due to her promotion in her school district (we could have told them how good she was!).  Nurse Jennifer is helping us find another Health Supervisor, potentially from her school district in San Jose.  If you might be qualified, please reach out and let us know!

Counselors - We hire a male and female camp counselor every year, and if need be we might hire an extra counselor.  The counselors are responsible for the campers getting up and to breakfast on time, getting morning chores done, and to our first activity on time - 8:00AM! They also plan evening activities for campers to get to know each other and have fun after a day of lectures and activities.