Shaffer's High Sierra Camp
Tahoe National Forest, 38782 Highway 49, Sattley, CA 96124
About
Shaffer's High Sierra Camp offers activities such as archery, arts and crafts, camp fire, evening program, performing arts, hip hop, swimming in a pool and lake, and volleyball. Campers can also take part in backpacking, hiking, a challenge ropes course, disc golf, gold panning, horseback riding, lake kayaking, mountain biking, mountain boarding, paddle boarding, rock climbing, shelter building, and whitewater rafting. The camp also offers a leadership training program and operates without Wi-Fi, with enrollment limited to 120 campers.
• Ages: 8–17 years old
• Schedule: Sessions of two weeks or longer
Shaffer's High Sierra Camp is led by Lisa and Scott Shaffer. Its mission statement says that the camp helps boys and girls grow better connections with people, nature, and their potential by helping them take another step toward a happy, healthy adulthood through the development of critical life skills. The camp has been recommended by Outside Magazine and The LA Times, named by Outside Magazine as one of its 5 favorite camps in the U.S., and listed by Newsweek as one of the nation's best camps. The camp participated in a research study conducted by Stanford University's Graduate School of Education.
Parent testimonials describe campers returning home asking to stay longer to do more activities, and mention that the camp picks up and drops off campers at the Reno airport. Parents describe experiences that include rock climbing, mountain boarding, crafts, hip hop, sleeping in a tipi, and cooling off in clear mountain lakes. Testimonials also mention campers meeting kids from around the world, keeping in touch with friends after camp, and referring to camp as “Electronics Rehab” because it is an experience without phones, iPads, or computers. Several parents describe their children wanting to return each summer and note that Lisa and Scott Shaffer and the staff manage the camp and staff and provide close supervision and support, including for a camper with Down syndrome.
Last updated June 16, 2026.
• Ages: 8–17 years old
• Schedule: Sessions of two weeks or longer
Shaffer's High Sierra Camp is led by Lisa and Scott Shaffer. Its mission statement says that the camp helps boys and girls grow better connections with people, nature, and their potential by helping them take another step toward a happy, healthy adulthood through the development of critical life skills. The camp has been recommended by Outside Magazine and The LA Times, named by Outside Magazine as one of its 5 favorite camps in the U.S., and listed by Newsweek as one of the nation's best camps. The camp participated in a research study conducted by Stanford University's Graduate School of Education.
Parent testimonials describe campers returning home asking to stay longer to do more activities, and mention that the camp picks up and drops off campers at the Reno airport. Parents describe experiences that include rock climbing, mountain boarding, crafts, hip hop, sleeping in a tipi, and cooling off in clear mountain lakes. Testimonials also mention campers meeting kids from around the world, keeping in touch with friends after camp, and referring to camp as “Electronics Rehab” because it is an experience without phones, iPads, or computers. Several parents describe their children wanting to return each summer and note that Lisa and Scott Shaffer and the staff manage the camp and staff and provide close supervision and support, including for a camper with Down syndrome.
Last updated June 16, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.