Meet Hector & Sandy from Camp KABOOM!
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!
Meet Our Fearless Leaders, Hector & Sandy! Q & A
Fearless Leader, Hector!
Hector Carlos, Co-Director
- How long have you been working for the City of Redwood City?
8 years, primarily in After School Programs. - 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. - 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!
- 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. - 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. - Favorite Camp Song
“Bananas Unite” – the extended version
- 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.
- 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. - 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, Fearless Leader #2
Sandy Garza, Co-Director
- 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. - 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! - 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!
- 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!
- Favorite Camp Song
“Pizza Man”
- 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.
- College Degree or In School Right Now?
Degree in Psychology & Sociology - 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.
Places to Chill – It’s HOT Outside!
It. Is. HOT. It’s not even summer yet and we are scrambling for ways to beat the heat! Herkner Pool won’t be open until June 17th- when our Summer staff is hired, trained, and of course, out of school, but in the meantime, we have plenty of other places to go and “chill.”
1. Stafford Park
King St./Hopkins Ave. (map)
Water feature operates May – October from 11am-7pm.
It turns off from 12-1pm & 3-4pm.
Amenities: Playground, Tot lot, Picnic Area, Grass Play Area, BBQs and Restrooms
2. Andrew Spinas Park
2nd Ave./Bay Road (map)
Water feature operates May – October from 11am-7pm.
It turns off from 12-1pm & 3-4pm.
Amenities: Playground, Picnic Area, Play Area, Basketball Court, Lit Tennis Court and Restrooms
3. Fleishman Park
Locust St. / McEvoy St. (map)
Water feature operates May – October from 11am-7pm.
It turns off from 12-1pm & 3-4pm.
Amenities: Playground, Picnic Area, Play Area, BBQs and Restrooms
4. Maddux Park
Maddux Dr./Kensington Rd. (map)
Water feature operates May – October from 11am-7pm.
It turns off from 12-1pm & 3-4pm.
Amenities: Playground, Tot Lot, Picnic Area, Restrooms & nice, Grass Play Area.
5. Stulsaft Park
3737 Farm Hill Blvd. (map)
Water feature operates May – October from 11am-7pm.
It turns off from 12-1pm & 3-4pm.
Amenities: Hiking Trails & Creek, Playground, Tot Lot, Picnic Area, BBQ pits, Soccer Field & Restrooms
Also, don’t miss our Parks Alive! Camp Fair! (click for info) tomorrow (5/4) at Red Morton Community Center from 1:00-4:00pm!
Meet our camp providers, ask as many questions as you desire, and let your kids play in our inflatable play area or get acquainted with the staff by experiencing some of the hands-on activities available for them to try.
Meet Camp Directors from: Camp Kaboom, Camp Whatchamacalit, Camp Polliwog, Junior & Mighty Mountaineers, Explorers, High-5. In addition, these camp vendors will also be available to answer your questions: Mad Science, Skyhawks Sports Camps, Celebrate Art!, Play-well Teknologies, Freshi Media, San Carlos Children’s Theater, Bayshore Elite Gymnastics.
Why did I include this in our cooling off post? Well, we have air-conditioning!
Visit our website for more information about Summer Swim at Herkner Pool, located at 1315 Madison Avenue in Red Morton Park, Click here for information about our 2013 Aquatics program!
How Does Your Garden Grow? Ask A Pro! Raccoons!
This week we will be tackling a question regarding pests, that came to us via the Twittersphere!
Photo from thriftyfun.com
Q: How do I keep those pesky RWC raccoons from ravaging my garden!?! – Bobbak S
There are far more Raccoons in the urban/suburban setting than there are in the wild!
Raccoons want what we offer them: food and shelter! It is easier to obtain these necessities of life from suburbia than it is from the wilderness!
Since it wasn’t specified what kind of damage the raccoons are doing, we’ll have to speculate. Are they digging up your lawn (sod), getting into your trash cans or stealing vegetables and fruit? Here are some common humane solutions to these types of problems.
Let’s start with the basic idea of a giant barrier. You cannot keep the raccoons out of your yard without fencing them out. The type of fence that you would need would be extremely cost-prohibitive!
So…try and figure out what they are after at your house and eliminate that attraction.
- Digging up your lawn? –They usually do this in the late summer and fall when the white grubs are near the soil surface, eating the roots of your lawn and shrubs. The Grubs are a major food source for raccoons. You can discourage the raccoons by eliminating the soil insect pests.
- Stealing your vegetables and fruit? Plant enough for them, too! …Or, once again, exclusionary fencing (chicken wire cages) around the veggie beds and netting around the fruit trees.
- Are they getting into your trash cans? Use bungee cords to tie the trash can lids down.
- Don’t leave dog or cat food where the raccoons have access to it.
- Homeowners can have “some” luck with motion activated sprinkler systems and, occasionally, with chemical repellents or ammonia stations –but neither of these measures are 100%!
And lastly, some people attempt to trap and relocate the raccoons…this is not a good idea. There is always another raccoon ready and willing to take the place of the one you removed!
Do you have a question? Email us at recnews@redwoodcity.org , Tweet to@rwcparksandrec or comment on Facebook.
“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!
High -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.
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?
High-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!
How Does Your Garden Grow? ASK A PRO!
Welcome to our first installment of our gardening advice blog! Our Landscape Pros will be doing their best to demystify dirt, revive your roses and green-up your grass in our new blog series! Of course, we cannot guarantee your results, but hopefully we can put you on the right track and turn your thumb from black to green.
Q: Can Avocado trees be raised in containers? – Angel G.
A: Growing any type of fruit tree in a container is tough. The operative word here is “tree.” Trees generally need more root space than most containers can give them, but it can be done! I wouldn’t use a container smaller than a ½ wine barrel- a container with at least 2.5 ft width by about the same depth.
Choose a dwarf-type tree. If a fruit tree is to be kept in a container longer than a few years, it is usually only successful using a dwarf variety. ‘Wurst’ (also called ‘Little Cado’) is a dwarf variety and is sometimes recommended for container planting. This avocado is a hybrid type (a cross between Mexican and Guatemalan varieties) and it is not tolerant of temperatures below 30F. The one advantage to a container grown plant is that you do have the option to move the container to a protected place when the temperature plummets.
You could also consider a ‘Stewart’ avocado for this climate. It is not a dwarf, but it is a smaller, compact tree and tolerates colder temperatures better than the ‘Wurst’. I can speak from personal experience to the success of keeping a ‘Stewart’ in a container for a few years before it required root-pruning and re-potting.
Quick Facts
- Avocados like a planting medium similar to citrus. Make sure that it is slightly acidic and drains well.
- Don’t expose your young tree to intense sun during the summer.
- Avocados are very sensitive to salts accumulating in the planting medium, so be sure to flush the salts from the pot periodically.
- Do NOT over-fertilize avocados –especially when planted in containers. Watch for leaf burn, both from intense sun and over fertilization.
- Mulch the surface of the pot to keep the shallow roots cool, while allowing air circulation.
- Don’t expect fruit too soon after planting! It can take 5 years or more before your tree may bear fruit.
Do you have a question? Email us at recnews@redwoodcity.org , Tweet to @rwcparksandrec or comment on Facebook.
Tick Tock! Time is Running Out to Enter Our T-Shirt Contest!
Do you like to draw? Do you LOVE Downtown Redwood City? Do you need $250?
The clock is ticking! Our Downtown Events T-Shirt Design Contest is well underway. You can proudly walk around town and tell that person with your design on their shirt, “Hey! I made that!”
We are looking for the artist who creates the image that best captures the excitement and fun of our downtown “on the Square” events, including ART on the Square, Movies on the Square and the wildly popular Music on the Square.
Images may be used on T-shirts, tank tops, sweatshirts, as well as on the web, and for Advertising/PR purposes by the City of Redwood City. The winner will receive $250, courtesy of the Redwood City Parks & Arts Foundation and be acknowledged via email, social media platforms, and by the City.
DEADLINE IS APRIL 22, 2013! Click here for more info!
Spring Beauty in Redwood City – Photos
Have you taken your walk today? I needed some fresh air and decided to step out of my office at the Community Activities Building. I was immediately captivated by all of the beautiful colors surrounding Red Morton Park, so much so, that I was compelled to snap some photos and share them with you!
These cheerful blooms are the work of our talented Landscape Team who continue to amaze us with their wonderful upkeep of our Parks, Planters, Medians, you name it! In addition to being great at what they do, they are more than happy to share their knowledge with you. If you have any questions about something they are working on, or are just wondering why your Rhododendrons are not flourishing like ours, just ask!
By the way, the Rose Garden adjacent to the Community Activities Building is about to explode with blooms! Make sure to add it to your walking route in the near future.
Lastly, are you snap-happy with your cell phone? Make sure to follow us on Instagram @rwcparks. Hashtag your shots with #rwcparks or mention us in your posts so we can see what you see.
