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, 13 and Nicole, 11, both attend 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 14 years. Her two children, Remy and Delaney have attended both Camp Hess Kramer and Gindling Hilltop Camp. A resident of Studio City, she likes to travel the world, eat good food, and spend time with her children. Email Cheryl at Cheryl@wbtcamps.org.

Cheri Lauterbach is the Alumni and Development Director for Wilshire Boulevard Temple Camps, with over eighteen years experience in alumni programming and fundraising at independent schools and as the Director of Development at the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Free time is spent with her husband and their three children in Los Angeles and New York City.

A Camp Hess Kramer alum, she is a passionate advocate for residential Jewish camps, and will be creating 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 invites your involvement , ideas and suggestions and most importantly, the opportunity to welcome you back to camp. Email Cheri at cheri@wbtcamps.org.

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.

Eric Nicastro comes all the way from New York City to join the Wilshire Boulevard Temple Family. Eric has spent almost two decades at Reform Jewish Summer Camps and nearly a decade as a Youth Worker and Informal Jewish Educator. He spent 16 summers at URJ’s Eisner Camp and has worked with NFTY (North American Federation of Temple Youth) for 10 years. Eric started his professional career as a camp CIT and has moved on to leading teen travel programs, teaching Religious School, directing youth programs, working on camp administrations, and many other positions in the world of Jewish education. He is a graduate of SUNY Empire State College with a Bachelor of Science in Community and Human Services. In addition to being an Assistant Director at camp, Eric is also the Director of Teen Programs at Wilshire Boulevard Temple. Eric is excited to continue to help make the teen experience at Wilshire Boulevard Temple and its camps a special place for generations to come. Email Eric at eric@wbtcamps.org.