Our Mission

To empower individuals through personal and character growth in an inclusive and unique wilderness setting, fostering a deep connection with nature, community, and self. 

Our Vision

Build a future where every individual experiences personal growth and develops a lifelong connection with their community and the natural world. We aim to be a leader in youth development, nurturing leaders who are environmentally conscious, socially responsible, and equipped to face life's challenges with resilience and a sense of adventure.

Our Core Values

1. Inclusion: Access, Acceptance, Support & Opportunities for Diverse Individuals

2. Honesty: Integrity, Transparency, Morality, Trustworthy

3. Responsibility: Account, Reliable, Committed to Safety, Service, and the Community, Follow-through, Leadership, Fiscal Responsibility

4. Caring: Compassion, Empathy, Kindness, Philanthropy, Giving

5. Respect: For other people, differences, community, nature, self

6. Leadership: Cultivating future leaders through mentorship, challenge, and the development of leadership skills.

What We Do

The Jack and Buena Foundation manages operations at the Camp Jack Hazard in the high Sierras and is committed to providing scholarships for under-served youth so that camping experiences will be accessible to all members of the community. The Jack and Buena Foundation is also committed to building a community of Camp Jack Hazard alumni and foster connections with the local communities served by Camp Jack Hazard.

We have been steadily growing the impact of our scholarships and the overall camp enrollment since taking over operations for Camp Jack Hazard in 2011.

Meet Our Board Members

Ty Vernon
Board President

Ty Vernon (Started August 2015: 10 years on Board): Ty Vernon currently serves as the President of the Jack and Buena Foundation Board of Directors. He is a licensed psychologist, an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology and Director of the Koegel Autism Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara. In these roles, Ty focuses on improving social and mental health outcomes for autistic and other neurodiverse youth and adults. He brings his knowledge of child development, nonprofit management, fundraising, and program development and evaluation to the foundation. Ty was a camper, counselor, program staff member, and LIT director of CJH from 1994-2003.

Tatiana Altman
Vice- President ​- Attorney

Tatiana Altman (Started Oct 2023: 2 years on Board) Tatiana Altman currently serves as a Board Member of the Jack and Buena Foundation. She works as a senior attorney for a housing law firm, and has extensive experience as a lawyer. Tatiana has managed social media for businesses and nonprofits, and has also led projects related to volunteer outreach, community engagement, legal compliance, and policy development. She previously attended Camp Jack Hazard from 2001 to 2014 as a camper, Volunteer, Counselor, Ropes Course Program Director, and LIT Director.

Marshall Ogier
Treasurer ​- Educator

Marshall Ogier (Started Sept 2021: 4 years on Board). Marshall Ogier currently serves as the Treasurer of the Jack and Buena Foundation. He is a Policy Advisor and brings a strong passion for supporting community growth and impactful financial planning to the JBF. A seasoned accountant, his experience is underscored by his deep roots with the camp, a relationship spanning over 25 years. This combination of fiscal acumen and intimate camp familiarity enables him to efficiently guide financial strategies and decisions to fulfill the foundation's mission.

Joel Buettner
Board Member - Non Profit Administrator

Joel Buettner (2013-2017, 2019-2023, Restarted Sept 2023: 11 years on Board). Joel Buettner currently serves as a Board Member of the Jack and Buena Foundation. He currently works as a General Manager of the Placer Mosquito and Vector Control District with 20+ years’ experience working in the field/area of public health leadership. He has over 25 years of experience in public and nonprofit administration, strategic planning, program development, applied scientific research, and outdoor and experiential education and leadership. Joel started attending Camp Jack Hazard in 1983 as a camper, worked as staff from 1989 through 1998 and served on the JBF board intermittently since 2015 including two terms as President. Joel was awarded the "Giving and Forget the Gift" Volunteer of the Year Award in 2022.

Ian Johnson
Board Member ​- Alumni

Ian Johnson (Started Oct 2024: 1 Year on Board): Ian Johnson currently serves as a board member of the Jack and Buena Foundation and a member of the Finance, Marketing, and Staff Development Committees . He currently works as a manager focused on data governance He has expertise and experience with budgeting, financial planning, forecasting, outlooking, and building/maintaining professional networks and collaborations. Ian previously served as a camper, LIT, counselor, and program staff for Camp Jack Hazard.

Elizabeth Baker
Board Member ​- Alumni

Liz Baker (Started Oct 2024: 1 year on Board): Liz Baker currently serves as a board member of the Jack and Buena Foundation, the chair of the marketing committee. She currently works as a full-time mother. She has expertise and experience with leadership, communication, behavioral therapy, event planning, networking, and creating community with a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology, She previously served as rental group staff, counseling staff, program staff, and site director at Camp Jack Hazard.

Amanda Love
Board Member ​- Camp Registrar

Amanda Hoyopatubbi (Started Sept 2023: 2 Years on Board) Amanda Hoyopatubbi currently serves as Secretary of the Jack and Buena Foundation. She currently works as Camp Jack Hazards Camp Secretary, Administrative Lead, and Office Manager with over 10 years’ experience working in the field of Admin Support. She currently holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business with Honors. She previously attended Camp Jack Hazard from 1993 to 1998 as a camper and has 3 children who attend CJH, 2 of which moved on to be staff members

Jason L. Poisson
Co-Founder and Executive Director

Jason Poisson first came to Camp Jack Hazard in 1992 and his heart never left. He worked from 1992 to 2003. After his tenure at CJH, Jason took all the skills he learned working with teens and became a teacher in Modesto, California. Jason taught High School English and Anthropology for 9 years at Valley Charter High School. In 2009, Jason and Loren “Skippy” Williams founded the Jack and Buena Foundation to help support Camp Jack Hazard, which later meant taking over 100% operations of the site and program. Jason is the current Executive Director of the Foundation.