Continuing our series on our summer staff, we introduce you to those who first came to Redwood Glen through our summer program camps.  Some like Tashi, Ryan, and Andrew grew up through camp, while others like Sam and Matt began as camp counselors. 

Introducing some of the members of our 2011summer staff (left to right): Matt, Andrew, Ryan, Sam, and Tashi

After serving as Jr. High/Sr. High Camp Director last year, Matt Mitchell completed his first year as our 2011 Summer Camp Program Director. Before coming to camp this summer, he served as a PE teacher for middle schoolers in Waterford.  Matt has worked at Redwood Glen for 7 summers, and has been at camp for 10 years in total. When offered the position as program director, he took it because he thought it would be a challenge. He is influenced by his mother who has been a inspiration and who does not give up; his younger brother Cody who has become one of his friends; and his deceased father who helped to mold him into the person that he is -- an optimistic person who enjoys and appreciates the things he has. Before returning to Waterford to teach and coach different football teams, Matt hopes to take some of his friends through some of the new activities around camp like hula hoop golf.  

Returning as lifeguard for another summer, Andrew Gonsalves is a recent high school graduate.  He first came to camp as a volunteer with his church, First Baptist Vallejo, and began attending Youth Music And Drama Camp in 2006.  Since then he has volunteered during the school year, and has worked at camp for the past 3 summer. In addition to being at Redwood Glen, he enjoys making movies, playing video games, and working on cars.  He is the oldest of his siblings, which include brothers Caleb and Fisher, along with his adorable sisters, Grace, Demaris, and Bethany. One highlight of his summer was moving to Hodge house with some of the other male summer staff.  Andrew hopes to finish more projects at camp before he returns home to Benicia, where he will start his freshman year in college.

Like Andrew, Ryan Lacorte has spent many summers at camp, serving this summer as a volunteer in different departments. He first came to Redwood Glen for Junior Adventure camp in 2005. Ryan is currently a high school junior who is homeschooled.  He comes from a family of four, and lives with his younger sister and parents. One thing Ryan loves is rock 'n roll, along with video games. One of his highlight this summer has been working with other great staff members at camp and hanging out with them at all their outings.  He hopes to have a giant staff nerf fight before returning home to Fairfield and continuing his high school education.   

Samuel Boules is new to Redwood Glen staff, but not new to the camp.  He served three summers as a counselor at Discovery camp, but wanted to volunteer after it was over because he enjoyed his stay. Samuel is from Hughson and will be looking for a job when he returns at the end of his summer break. He enjoys working, paintballing and air softing. Because he loves working, he hopes to finish painting storage closets at camp before he leaves.  He also enjoyed serving with the awesome staff here at Redwood Glen this summer. When asked about his family, Samuel says that they are in the norm, working and awesome parents.  His siblings, however, can be at times annoying but he would not trade them for the world.

Serving her first summer as our Summer Program Assistant, Tashi Vedel grew up at Redwood Glen camps, beginning with Children's Music And Drama.  As a camper and counselor, she has always wanted to work on program staff.  Before coming to Redwood Glen this summer, Tashi worked as a nanny while going to Chabot College.  In addition to being a nanny, she loves taking pictures and singing, and hopes to major in music. She has a very creative and awesome mom.  Her older sister, Briony, is a hard worker who also loves being a mom.  Her older brother, Devon, lives in Denver and used to work at Redwood Glen.  Her father works at an environmental friendly company.  Some of her summer highlights include getting her desk "ducked" by Matt and Chad for program activities, along with going to the beach for the fourth of July to see fireworks. Before returning to her home in Alameda, Tashi hopes to climb a tree.  

Another returning summer staff and lifeguard is Katie Petroni (pictured left), a recent college graduate from Waterford. While attending college she worked as a babysitter, something she enjoys doing, along with dancing, camping, and hanging out with family and friends. Her family includes her parents, who enjoy being outdoors, a Russian terrier and Great Dane. Her grandmother has been a great inspiration in making her the person that she is today. One reason she returned to Redwood Glen for a second summer is because it is a great opportunity to be with other Christians and to be around God in nature. As one of the life guards, she enjoys watching the lives of children and seeing how God works in people. One of her phrase to live by is that everything happens for a reason.  She therefore often tries to do whatever she can help others. She also hopes that she will be able to build more sound relationships. After leaving Redwood Glen, Katie will be teaching students with disabilities.