For over three decades, the winding roads of Wrightwood have led more than just hikers and locals into the heart of the San Gabriels. They have also led hundreds of children toward a life-changing sense of belonging. Since 1994, South Camp Teresita Pines has served as a permanent home for the Lions Wilderness Camp for Deaf Children. A place where the rustle of the pines is met not with spoken words, but with the rhythmic, expressive beauty of American Sign Language (ASL). As Camp Teresita prepares for its upcoming summer camp, the focus remains on a thirty-year legacy of turning a quiet mountain retreat into a vibrant hub of independence, leadership, and community for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing youth of the Tri-Community and beyond.
For the camp’s new Director, Kayla Hori, the connection to this program is much more than professional; it’s personal. Hori’s own story mirrors the transformation many of her campers experience. She first joined the Lions Wilderness Camp for Deaf Children at their North Camp, Ross Relles, in Nevada City at age 11, when she did not yet know ASL. “Meeting Deaf children from all kinds of backgrounds was completely new to me,” Hori recalls, “The signing environment helped me grow real confidence and become fluent in ASL. Seeing Deaf role models, counselors, and older campers thriving in signing space had a huge impact on my life, showing me I could succeed as a Deaf person and building my confidence to lead.” Hori’s journey took her from a hesitant camper to a Counselor-in-Training, and eventually through the ranks of administration. Today, she leads the very organization that gave her a best friend on her first day of camp, a friendship that has lasted a lifetime.
The camp’s mission is to provide wilderness camping facilities, outdoor experiences, educational opportunities, independence, and a sense of Deaf community outside of an academic setting. “Lions Wilderness Camp is unique from other camps because it is fully signing-centered allowing Deaf campers to lead games, skits, activities, and cabin life as daily norms, without feeling left out among hearing kids or needing interpreters for everything,” says Hori.
Every summer, Camp Teresita Pines in Wrightwood runs a week long camp primarily for Deaf and hard of hearing children ages 7-15. Siblings of Deaf Adults (SODAs) and Children of Deaf Adults (CODAs) are welcome as well, but they are required to know ASL. The campers participate in a classic wilderness experience such as archery, swimming, rock climbing, fishing, and even overnight hiking. The campsite itself has been purpose built and upgraded for accessibility, with pathways connecting cabins, the dining hall, pool, archery range, play field, and the campfire area, which helps campers move around and take part more easily as they navigate the rugged terrain with independence.
The camp is a testament to the power of service. Founded in 1980 and deeply tied to the Lions of California-Nevada, the program relies on a dedicated network of local Lions Clubs. These clubs have spent decades raising funds, donating supplies, and even adopting cabins to ensure the facility remains a premier destination for the Deaf community.
Safety and an inclusive environment are paramount. This is shown with a strict 1:5 camper-to-counselor ratio and a signing nurse on-site 24/7. All staff and volunteers are fluent in ALS as well, making communication visible and accessible so campers can fully join in activities, friendships, and routines.
As the July camping session approaches, the camp is looking to the local community to help keep the wilderness accessible. While the camp prepares to host between 50 and 90 campers, the need for camperships (scholarships) is ongoing.
“There are several ways to support us,” Hori explains, “such as sponsoring a camper to cover scholarships or donating supplies like camping equipment and activity materials.”
For the residents of Phelan, Piñon Hills, and Wrightwood, the Lions Wilderness Camp is more than just a summer program; it is a 30-year legacy of inclusion etched into the mountainside.
Lions Wilderness Camp for Deaf Children at Teresita Pines will take place July 11-18, 2026 with registration remaining open until all cabins are filled. For more information about the upcoming Lions Wilderness Camp at Teresita Pines in Wrightwood and ways you can support the camp, visit their website at https://lionswildcamp.org/.
