Tag: bio

Meet Mr. “Cesar” Salad

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When we needed a new Director for Camp Whatchamacallit, the choice was clear. Camp Whatchamacallit is our Full Day Camp in Redwood Shores that it is chock-full of activities, field trips, swimming, sports, crafts and plenty of fun! The Commander-in-Chief of this Shores Crew needed to be someone who had a ton of experience, could manage kids of all ages, motivate staff, and well…just keep up with the get-up-and-go that a Full Day Camp requires. This particular Camp Director gives 100% all day long and maintains an amazingly consistent equilibrium of enthusiasm from 8:30am-5pm. ALL. SUMMER. LONG. Meet Cesar Zuniga!

Meet Cesar Zuniga! Q & A

cesarCamp Nick Name: Caesar Salad
Director of Camp Whatchamacallit at Sandpiper Community Center

  1. How long have you been working for the City? Current Job?
    Wow, it’s been almost 14  great years now. I started in high school as a program leader and they’ve been stuck with me ever since. I am currently the After School Program Coordinator at John Gill Elementary School
  2. How many years have you worked Camp Whatchamacalit?
    I have been fortunate enough to have been part of many camps and they have all been great. This is my 4th year with Camp Whatchamcallit.
  3. What do you love best about working at Camp Whatchamacallit?
    That’s simple, it’s the kids! There is wonderful community that surrounds and participates in our camp and it shows with every fun summer that I am there.
  4. Your favorite Camp Memory from Camp Whatchamacallit?
    Unfortunately, I was never able to participate in Redwood City camps as a child, so it’s like being a  kid and doing it for the first time. There are so many great memories… how to pick… A couple of years ago a child was very nervous to go on their first “big” ride at Great America.  After a few minutes of getting pumped up, he went on it. Tears and screams!!!! Made for GREAT in-the-air action pictures. He’s 14 or 15 years old now and still comes back every Summer to see us and reminisce about that “life changing” experience.

    I also still have a stuffed otter a camper gave me one summer after I said it was my favorite animal. His name is “Odie.”
  5. Camp Nick Name
    “Caesar Salad” is not the most imaginative name, but it started 10 years ago at Day Camp and has kept on going and going and going…
  6. Favorite Camp Song
    “Wrist a Shaw” by far!!!! But I am also really into, “I’m a Musician”  lately. HA!
  7.  Fun Fact
    I’m 6’1 HA! Just kidding.  I’m proud to say I’m good at old Disney cartoon movie trivia and Disney music trivia!
  8. College degree: San Diego State (beach in December!!!) majored in Sociology.
  9. Extra Credit: Did you grow up in Redwood City?
    Born, raised and proud! Roosevelt Raccoon, Kennedy Cougar and Sequoia Cherokee.

For more information about our Summer Camps in Redwood City, Visit us at RedwoodCityCamps.org!  There is still space! 

You May Know Them as “T-Bird” & “Butterfly”

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If your child has come home from the woods speaking of the elusive Blue Monkeys and singing “YOU CAN’T RIDE IN MY LITTLE RED WAGON” in the back of your car at level 10,  then we are certain you know these two lively Camp Directors. They have both been a part of our Redwood City Team for over a decade and probably love their jobs even more today than they did the day they started.  Every year, they DEMAND that they return to “Day Camp” at Stulsaft, as they feel like it is their OWN chance to go to camp every summer – not to mention, they LOVE seeing the campers who return year after year.

The relationships they have cultivated with the kids and the parents are a huge draw to why they return each Summer. The camaraderie and consistency of our staff, is what we believe, to be one the major perks of our program. The kids look forward to coming back to camp each summer not only because it’s FUN, but they are also eager to see our staff. There is a comfort in knowing the routine and seeing familiar faces- for parents and children alike! So who are T-Bird and Butterfly? Why of course, they are Telisha and Jake!

Meet Telisha and Jake! Q & A

T-Bird
T-Bird getting pumped for Summer!

Telisha Brent
Camp Nick Name: T-bird/Grandmother Stulsaft
Co-Director of Tiny Timbers, Explorers, and Mountaineers @ Stulsaft Park

  1. How long have you been working for the City? Current Job?
    I’ve been working for the City since 1999, yes 1999! I am currently the Director of the Sandpiper Youth Club after school program in Redwood Shores!
  2. How many years have you worked at Day Camp?
    I’ve worked at Day Camp since the summer of 2000. I’ve been the Director since 2006. It’s pretty awesome because I actually went to the camp when I was a kid. Looks like I’m never leaving Stulsaft Park!
  3. What do you love best about working at Day Camp?
    There are a ton of things I love about day camp, but if I had to pick just one, it would have to be being outside all the time hiking and literally having fun in the sun!
  4. Your favorite Camp Memory from Day Camp?
    I probably have a million “favorite camp memories” but if I had to narrow it down, one that always makes me laugh was during one of our overnighters. During one of our nighttime leader scavenger hunts (where the leaders hide and the children find them for points) I decided to make it my mission NOT to be found. I found the perfect hiding spot HIGH in a tree over the camp site. Not only was I the first leader to be found, after my disappointment, I wasn’t able to get out of the tree. About 45 minutes later and a truck and assistance from several staff members, I made it down safely. Needless to say, that was the last time I hid in a tree.
  5. Favorite Camp Song? Little Red Wagon
  6. Fun Fact: I am a member of the Justin Bieber fan club. Yes, I’ll admit it, I’m a BELIEBER.
  7. College degree: B.A. in English
  8. Extra Credit: Did you grow up in Redwood City?
    My dad was in the Coast Guard when I was younger so we traveled a lot, but Redwood City was always home base. I went to Roy Cloud and Kennedy for a couple years, great memories at both schools 🙂
jake1
Jake, testing the creek water temperature for the kids.

Jacob Hodgdon
Camp Nick Name: Butterfly (it’s a long story, but let’s just say that I did not come up with it)
Co-Director of Tiny Timbers, Explorers, and Mountaineers @ Stulsaft Park

  1. How long have you been working for the City? Current Job?
    I have been working for the City for 12 years.  I am currently an Administrative Specialist working on various special projects (read Jack-of-all-Trades)
  2. How many years have you worked at Day Camp?
    This will be my 8th summer co-running the Day Camp up at Stulsaft Park.
  3. What do you love best about working at Day Camp?
    What don’t I love best about working at Day Camp? (The best summer camp ever, by the way.)  It’s the camp I went to in the summer when I was a kid and it’s the camp I always wanted to work at.  It’s outdoors, in nature, we make crafts, go for hikes, sing songs, put on skits, play in the creek, get dirty – What could be better?
  4. Your favorite Camp Memory from Day Camp?
    It is honestly very hard for me to pick out one memory as my favorite. One that definitely stands out though, was my first Challenge Day as a leader, when I was more excited for all of the competitions than any of the campers in my group (spoiler alert: we lost).  In fact, my biggest regret about Day Camp is that I still have never won the Challenge Day Cup.
  5. Favorite Camp Song?
    Easy – An Austrian went Yodeling – Best camp song ever! (Your Mama Don’t Wear No Socks is a close 2nd though.)
  6. Fun Fact:
    I taught myself how to play the guitar and the drums, and I am currently learning the mandolin.
  7. College degree:
    Bachelors Degree in Philosophy from San Jose State University *cough – Magna Cum Laude – cough* 
  8. Extra Credit: Did you grow up in Redwood City?
    Born and raised in RWC.  I have been a proud Henry Ford Mustang, Kennedy Cougar, and Woodside Wildcat.  I even went to preschool at Red Morton.  I can’t think of a better place to grow up.

For more information about our Nature Camps at Stulsaft Park, Visit us at RedwoodCityCamps.org! There is still space! 

Meet Hector & Sandy from Camp KABOOM!

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What is Camp Kaboom?

Have you ever searched tirelessly for a Summer Camp solution that would complete some sort of ideal parental wishlist you had for your child? No Camp is perfect, but Camp Kaboom is pretty darn close when it comes to meeting the needs of the child and YOU, the parent!

1. First of all, it runs from 8am-5pm.
This is not only great for working parents, but SAHMs or Dads can also consider this a week of Camp for themselves! We also have after-care from 5-6pm if you need a little more time.

2. Lunch is included!
I don’t think we need to spell this one out for you. See #1 – Parents, you get a break from packing lunch! Plus, we provide not one, but TWO healthy snacks!

3. We go to the Pool!
Swimming. A very important aspect of Summer. Also, it’s very tiring. 

4. Weekly Field Trips!
Did you think the pool was our only outing? We’ll take your child to fun attractions in the Bay Area that they  LOVE, so a) they can have fun, and b) you can avoid a full day at Great America (if that’s not your thing)! It’s also a great way to diversify the week.

5. Lastly, we supply never-ending arts, crafts, sports, movies, attentive and supportive staff, and FUN! 

SIGN UP HERE!

Meet Our Fearless Leaders, Hector & Sandy! Q & A

Fearless Leader of Kaboom!
Fearless Leader, Hector!

Hector Carlos, Co-Director

  1. How long have you been working for the City of Redwood City?
    8 years, primarily in After School Programs.
  2. How many years have you worked at Camp Kaboom?
    It seems wrong to call it work when we get to play around all day, but this summer will be my 6th year at Camp Kaboom and my 5th year as one of the camp directors.
  3. Camp Nick Name
    3 of our campers decided one summer that Hector was too long, so they started calling me “Tor” instead and it stuck. Thanks Allison, Madeline, and Darien!
  4. What do you love best about working at Kaboom?
    Camp Kaboom NEVER GETS BORING. Every week brings forth activities inspired by a different theme, so every week is a different experience. It’s a welcomed challenge to get to plan activities that will be enjoyed by our broad age range of campers.
  5. Your favorite Camp Memory?
    We had this one camper who loved to read. She and her sister would come back every summer. If ever she had a minute of downtime, she would sit against a wall, pull out a monster of a book, and read.  I found out that we were both reading the ‘Inheritance’ series by Christopher Paolini (each book was 500+ pages) and we began talking about the books every summer. Then one summer, she said she had not read the third book – which had been released the previous fall. When I brought her my hardcover copy and said she could keep it, she almost tackled me with the hug she gave me and said “Thank you” about 50 times.  
  6. Favorite Camp Song
    “Bananas Unite” – the extended version
  7. Fun Fact
    It is another nickname story.  As a child, I fell asleep in church often, so much in fact, that people started calling me “Linus” after the character from the “Peanuts” comics who always carried his blanket around.
  8. College Degree or In School Right Now?
    I am currently attending Foothill College. My goal is to become a registered nurse, hopefully working in pediatrics.
  9. Extra Credit: Did you grow up in Redwood City?
    YES! I went to Hoover from preschool to 6th grade, Mckinley for 7th and 8th, and I graduated from Sequoia High School.
sandy
Sandy, Fearless Leader #2

Sandy Garza, Co-Director

  1. How long have you been working for the City of Redwood City?
    I have been working for the city for 13 years, primarily in After School Programs.
  2. How many years have you worked Camp Kaboom? 
    I’ve been with Camp Kaboom since it started 9 years ago, and have been a Director for 7!
  3. What do you love best about working at Kaboom?
    I love working at Camp Kaboom and seeing the campers come back year after year, as well as meeting new campers every summer.  What I love best, is when our past campers become LITs and we get to watch them go from camper, to role-model. I also LOVE when the kids and parents tell me how much they love the camp!
  4. Your favorite Camp Memory?
    My favorite camp memory is when we went to the Giants and Dodgers game 3 years ago.  We painted all of the children’s faces orange and black, made signs for the kids to hold, and chanted the whole game, then the Giants won!
  5. Favorite Camp Song
    “Pizza Man”
  6. Fun Fact
    I am obsessed with the game show channel, and have been, since I was 5!  All of the pictures of me when I was little that have the T.V. in the background have some sort of game show on it.   I would LOVE to be on Family Feud or The Price is Right someday.  
  7. College Degree or In School Right Now?
    Degree in Psychology & Sociology
  8. Extra Credit: Did you grow up in Redwood City?
    YES! I was born and raised in Redwood City and attended St. Pius and Sequoia High School.

Meet Edna English! Preschool Teacher, Camp Director and Obsessive Collector!

edna_mini“Edna English” sounds like some sort of Superhero Teacher. If you knew Edna, you would agree that this name fits her perfectly!  We were so fortunate that Edna answered our cry when we set out to find a new preschool teacher for our Lil’ Learners Preschool Program. Since she began 3 ½ years ago, our preschool has evolved into a very successful morning & afternoon program. She has also introduced an afternoon Spanish Immersion Preschool program, then, last summer, she launched Camp High-5!

solar-kidsHigh -5 is a recreation/enrichment camp for kids between the ages of 5 1/2 – 7. She wanted to do something special for this age group. Her goals were simple: to give the “big kids” a designated space to have an enrichment camp infused with the recreation camp experience; for them to have a ton of FUN; and of course, an excuse for her to spend some quality time with some of her recent Lil’ Learners graduates whom she had been missing.

Edna is amazingly passionate about her job, her kids… and some of her personal interests ( to which I lovingly refer to, as her ‘geeking out’, in a good way). I had interviewed her this week and had her answer some basic personal questions. She answered them in a very matter-of-fact way, somehow thinking that she had to “tone it down” for professionalism’s sake. I told her that our audience would likely prefer her overflowing enthusiasm, as we sell ourselves as purveyors of experience and fun! You see, Edna LOVES her job. I mean…she REALLY LOVES her job. Hopefully this is apparent in her response.

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How many years have you been teaching preschool?

You mean, how many years have I been doing exactly what I want to do and have had the best job on earth? 13.

What is the best part about teaching preschool?

The best part about teaching preschool is being around amazing kids. I love how preschoolers get excited when they try something for the first time. I love watching them build confidence as they master a new skill. I have the best conversations with preschoolers.  Also, this is my happy place. No matter what is going on in my life, I will ALWAYS come to work. This is where I feel normal, and honestly, how could you be anything but HAPPY in  this classroom!

Now onto camp. You decided to depart from Preschool Camp, What inspired you to create High-5?

012High-5 is way for older children to experience the preschool technique of “learning through play” & hands-on activities. Children don’t realize they are learning when they are having fun and creating awesome things. Also, I wanted to create an environment where we were really theme-rich and gave kids more time to explore a concept, expand their imaginations and finish a project. Sometimes in Recreation Camps things move quickly, so you don’t get a chance to really delve into a topic. We give them time to not only work on their creations, but expand on it as the days move forward.

It’s Clear you LOVE Camp, so what is your favorite camp memory?

One of my favorite camp memories is having a huge water fight with all the campers, staff and LITs where not ONE person was left dry.   

Camp Nick Name

Campers have been calling me “Turtle” for over 10 years… you’ll have to sign up for camp to find out why!

Favorite Camp Song

Yo’ mama don’t wear no socks.

Fun Fact About Edna

I collect Lego Mini-Figures*. When buying the series mini-figures, I can even feel through the packaging to find specific figures. 

*Important to note, Edna more than collects “Mini-Figs,” she is obsessed.  Words cannot describe…. but a picture on the other hand…

Find our more about Camp High-5 for 5½ – 7 year-olds here.

Meet Edna and the rest of our camp directors at our Camp Fair this Saturday from 1:00-4:00pm at Red Morton Community Center! Bring your questions and your KIDS! There will be fun, hands-on activities and our inflatable playland!

 Camp Fair