The adult leaders of White Stag Sierra are all trained volunteers. Some first attended the program as a youth, and some have children attending the program today. They all love the impact White Stag has on youth! Our adult leaders have a combined total of over 300 years of service to the organization. Why do they keep coming back? Read on.

Sandie Powell, Program Director

Program Director Sandie Powell has been contributing to the success of the White Stag program since 2015.

Sandie grew up in northern California, is a mother, and retired elementary school teacher.  For her entire adult life, Sandie has enjoyed working with children and youth at her church and White Stag Sierra.

Sandie is the most recent in her family to be involved with White Stag.  In the 1980s, her father served alongside the Quartermaster for many years and also served as a board member of the chartering organization.  During that time, her brother participated in the program as a candidate and also served on youth and adult staff.  Sandie’s daughters followed in their uncle’s footsteps and joined the program, completing all levels as candidates and youth staff members.  Sandie saw how they grew in confidence, knowledge, and ability to apply the leadership skills in their daily lives and knew that White Stag Sierra would be a program in which she would one day be involved.

Sandie joined White Stag Sierra in 2015 and has served as an advisor for Phase 1 Patrol Member Development and Phase 2 Patrol Leader Development, as well as Assistant Program Director before accepting her current position as Program Director.  In 2018, she received the Silver Stag award for her willingness to serve wherever needed, commitment, and outstanding contribution to the program.  Sandie received the 2021 Unit Scouter of the year award for her dedication, organization, and for being a motivational leader for Crew 122 which puts on White Stag Sierra Leadership Development Camp. 

For Sandie it has been rewarding to be involved along with her daughters with such an outstanding leadership development program.  White Stag has challenged her and grown her as a leader, and she has applied the principles learned by working with the program to many other areas of her life.  Sandie says, “White Stag Sierra has been challenging but fun, and it has been rewarding to help our youth improve their leadership skills and to see them grow.”

Larry Challis, Association President 

Program Director Larry Challis attended the camp as a youth in 1964. He returned to the program in 2009 when his children reached White Stag age and helped restore vitality to White Stag Sierra.

Larry grew up in Carmel, California and first attended White Stag in 1965 at age 13 at Camp Pico Blanco. He later became a member of the youth staff. As an adult, he moved to the Sacramento region where he founded a mortgage brokerage.

When his sons became Scouts, he learned that White Stag was still operational on the Central Coast. Larry served on the White Stag Academy’s adult staff in Monterey for four years and his sons later joined the youth staff. In 2014, Larry was asked by the leaders of the White Stag Association in northern California to become the Program Director of White Stag Sierra, where he has continually served since. Larry is an active member of his community, serving in the Kiwanis, church, and troop leadership positions.