Camp Director, Session 1. Avery Hill has been teaching music for over 10 years. Her 'ukulele and songwriting classes, workshops and jams have become a staple of the Portland (OR) music community. She has instructed at regional events like the Menucha Ukulele Band Camp, the Reno 'Ukulele Festival and the Songwriter Soirée Retreat. Whatever the classroom, Avery strives to educate everyone’s inner musician, to elevate their self-knowledge and confidence, and to enchant them with insight, presence, and a handful of good jokes. Avery is also a performing singer-songwriter, and storyteller. Her latest album is The One Who Remembers (2024). Learn more at www.averyhill.studio.

Assistant Camp Director, Session 1

Camp Co-Director, Session 2. Jeff is a long time member of the Caz community, and is excited to be teaching at Caz NW again. He is a graduate of the Creative Writing program at Stanford University, and writes a regular column for Seattle's Child magazine. He is the author of Catch a Fish, Throw a Ball, Fly a Kite, a book that teaches classic kid skills to parents and children, and True Blue, a middle grade fantasy novel. He has taught writing, photography and puppetry at Stagebridge Performing Arts Institute, The Northwest Writers' Weekend, Caz California and Caz Northwest. He and his family have been coming to Caz for many years.

Camp Co-Director, Session 2. Jessica is a multimedia artist who started out in linocut and intaglio printmaking, working at Sev Shoon Print Studio in Seattle. She studied oil portraiture at Gage Academy in Seattle and Studio Escalier in France, and more recently letterpress and bookbinding at the San Francisco Center for the Book. She also completed the scientific illustration certificate program at the University of Washington, where she has taught art to elementary and middle school through the Robinson Center for Young Scholars. She particularly loves doing collaborative art projects with kids, which you can see on her website at artworkbyjessicastanton.weebly.com, and is excited to be coming back for her seventh year at Caz.

Assistant Camp Director, Session 2.

Communications Director. Carin has attended Caz NW since the first summer! When not at camp, she's an educator who loves music, puzzles, reading and her family.

Operations Director. Amanda is excited to join the Caz NW team! She has decades of experience in education, working with youth and event planning. She is a lover of the outdoors, reading and knitting. She is originally from the Midwest, but has spent half her life on the West Coast- the Bay Area and Seattle.

Board President. Jonathan’s family first attended Caz Sonoma in 2016. He loved everything except the long drive from Seattle to Cazadero, so … Caz Northwest!

Board Treasurer. Alissa has been attending Caz with her family since 2022. She’s excited to support the magical community that’s created when everyone escapes to the forest for a week of intentional cultivation of creativity and joy. Alissa loves to sing, play drums, dance, sew, cook and bask in nature.

Board Secretary. Alex first attended CazNW with her youngest child in 2023 - they loved clowning, making papier-mache monsters, telling jokes, singing, taiko drumming and dancing so much that they brought the whole family plus friends back in 2024 and are already excited to think about what next year will bring. Alex is grateful for all of the instructors, staff and volunteers who make CazNW such a welcoming environment to try new things.

Board Member. Gavin’s journey to Cazadero started as a newborn at the Sonoma camp in 2001 and with few exceptions, the family performing arts camp has been a key part of his summer routine. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he is motivated to continue bringing that same magic to the PNW!

Board Member. Suzanne discovered Caz NW after the Covid years, and rarely a day goes by that she is not professing the joys of attending camp and rediscovering her love of the arts. Outside of Caz Suzanne sings in local choir, is learning to play ukulele, paints and supports her teammates and friends in karaoke and lip synch contests.