Douglas Lynn, is the Director of Wilshire Boulevard Temple camps, Camp Hess Kramer and Gindling Hilltop Camp. Doug came to Jewish Camping naturally, having “grown up” in the Reform movement’s youth groups and regional movements. He is a graduate of Duke University as well as an alum of Brandeis University’s Institute for Informal Jewish Education and The Foundation for Jewish Camp’s ELI (Executive Leadership Institute) program. Doug has been honored to have worked in the field of informal Jewish education since 1995, first as a regional advisor for the North American Federation of Temple Youth, then for nine years with the Union for Reform Judaism’s Eisner Camp prior to becoming the Director at Wilshire Boulevard Temple Camps in Malibu California in 2004. He lives in Los Angles, California with his wife Jamie and their daughter Eden. E-Mail Doug at doug@wbtcamps.org.

John Bard has been working with Wilshire Boulevard Temple Camps since 1994 as the Executive Chef and the on site manager. He has been a chef since graduating the Culinary Institute of America in 1984, and is a Certified Executive chef with the American Culinary Federation and prides himself on producing quality food and service for all guests. He truly loves his summers at camp so he can watch the camper grow up year after year. John’s two daughters, Miranda and Nicole both attended Camp Hess Kramer and Gindling Hilltop Camp. John enjoys playing tennis, hiking, and spending time with his wife, Nina, and his two daughters. Email John at John@wbtcamps.org.

Rabbi David Eshel is Wilshire Boulevard Temple Camps Rabbi. Rabbi Eshel first joined our camp community in the summer of 2001 when, returning from his first year of rabbinical school in Israel, he served our camps as a unit head. Rabbi Eshel has spent every subsequent summer working with our camps, serving as a Judaic educator and student rabbi. He joined the Temple clergy as a full-time Rabbi in the summer of 2006. David holds a B.A. in History from UCLA, an M.A. in Jewish Education as well as ordination from The Hebrew Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion. David’s wife, Stephanie, works as a Religious School principal for Temple Judea in Tarzana and West Hills. Email David at rabbidavid@wbtla.org.

Cheryl Garland has worked for Wilshire Boulevard Temple Camps as the Camps Office Manager for many years. Her two children, Remington and Delainey have attended both Camp Hess Kramer and Gindling Hilltop Camp. A resident of Studio City, she likes to travel the world, enjoys good entertainment, good food, and spending time with her family and adorable dog Chutney. Email Cheryl at Cheryl@wbtcamps.org.

Cheri Lauterbach is the Alumni and Development Director for Wilshire Boulevard Temple Camps.  With more than twenty years experience in alumni programming and fundraising at independent schools and as the Director of Development at the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  She and her husband Bob have three children living in Los Angeles, the Bay Area and New York City.

A Camp Hess Kramer alum, she is a passionate advocate for residential Jewish camps.  Since beginning her tenure with our camps three years ago, she has created many new opportunities for alums and camp families to return to camp, experience Shabbat, reconnect with old friends, and support the ongoing programs, growth and expansion of Camp Hess Kramer and Gindling Hilltop Camp.  She encourages your involvement, ideas and suggestions and most importantly, the opportunity to welcome you back to camp, to experience again the ruach that is Wilshire Boulevard Temple Camps.

Seth Toybes is the Assistant Director of the Wilshire Boulevard Temple Camps. Born and raised in St. Louis MO, during high school Seth's passion for Judaism and informal education was ignited in NFTY's Missouri Valley region participating heavily both locally and regionally. Seth graduated with honors from Drake University in Des Moines Iowa with a bachelor's in History. Upon graduating college Seth moved to Colorado to be a Youth Director serving the region in which he grew up. Throughout college and into his years in Colorado Seth found not only his passion but his love and worked each summer at the Wilshire Boulevard Temple Camps, as a counselor, and eventually senior staff member. After working as a Jewish professional in Colorado, Seth could no longer ignore his love joining our team to work at a Jewish summer camp full time. As our newest Assistant Director Seth now lives in Los Angeles where he enjoys preparing, programming, planning and working to build our wonderful summer camping experiences. Feel free to Email Seth at Seth@wbtcamps.org.

Jen Shankman is the Associate Director of Wilshire Boulevard Temple Camps. Jen has worked in the field of Jewish Education as a camp director, youth director, teacher and songleader. Her experiences in Jewish summer camping reach back over 25 years to her first summers as a camper at the URJ's Eisner Camp. It was there that she fell in love with camp and where she held positions as a counselor, unit head, head songleader and assistant director. While Jen left the field of camping to pursue a successful career as a singer/songwriter, her passion for camp, for Jewish education and for working with families continued to grow. She returned to the field of education, most recently at the JCC in Manhattan, where she taught early childhood education and was the site director for the three day camps housed at the JCC. Jen then had the exciting role of directing and building the program at the JCC's newest camp, the JCC Day Camp@Pearl River. She is a graduate of Hamilton College and holds a Master's Degree in Music Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Jen lives in Malibu (at camp!) with her husband Tevin and their son, Dashel. E-mail Jen at Jen@wbtcamps.org.