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Who are the teachers at Syrendell Summer Camp 2017? They are people who draw inspiration from Nature, cultural roots, and parents. And from a bull sire named Chester! Meet Karen Hansen, our AfterCamp teacher and faciliator.  1) Where were you born and where did you live as a kid? I was born in Cali, Colombia. I lived in Colombia and California as a kid. I'm grateful I got to live in another country and culture as a child. It gifted me important perspective I carried into adulthood. 2) What did you like to do as a kid? I loved Nature…exploring outside …trees, plants, flowers, stones….warm rain …sun. My father was a master gardener, so our yard and garden were a wonderland for me - delicious too! My mom was a master gardener with indoor plants. We grew up without a TV, so we were outside as much as possible. 3) Who were one of your heroes growing up and why? My mother. She was an amazing person who came from a simple indigenous background and beautiful culture and became a career woman and then mother. She led a life of service and touched a lot of people for the better in her life. She's still a hero to me! 4) What/who motivated you to become a teacher? My mother. She was a teacher. She raised me in a way that reflected every moment of life as an education. She taught me the value of giving and sharing, especially with children. 5) What inspires you to be creative? Bottom line….Nature! There is a flow that we are all a part of. It's never turned off. It's always there if we just allow it. I love the thought, the knowing, that we are all inter~connected by this flow. 6) Do you have a pet? What is its name? I don't have a pet presently but not long ago I had a buffalo herd and Chester was our bull sire. He was an amazing Teacher. At 2400 pounds his presence was profound, and I am grateful to have known him and his herd so closely. 7) What is one of your favorite foods? Ummm…that's a hard one, as there are so many….but on a sunny day like right now…a perfectly ripe papaya sounds heavenly! 8) If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be? Oh this changes from time to time… today I think I'd like something like teleportation for myself and the power to take others with me (willingly of course:). I could travel freely and take friends with me. ….Where shall we go? 9) Why do you want to teach at Syrendell Summer Camp? It's an amazing staff with a profound love for children and all their Potential. The location is ideal with Nature holding us as we explore. This relationship with Nature as we share time together enriches us all! Who are the teachers at Syrendell Summer Camp 2017? They are people who are kids at heart, never outgrowing their spirit of imagination and wonder. Meet Rick Tan, our woodworking instructor and camp co-director.  Rick with Wilson and Linden at West Davis Pond 1) Where were you born and where did you live as a kid? I was born in the Philippines. We (mom, dad, and two younger brothers) emigrated to the United States when I was five, landing in Chicago, Illinois. After three years of chilly winters, we headed to sunny California, where I lived in Sacramento for most of my childhood years, and our family grew by two more brothers! 2) What did you like to do as a kid? I enjoyed playing outside! In the provinces of the Philippines, I remember being outdoors for most of the day, playing with my brothers under the fruit trees, chasing chickens, digging in the dirt, hunting for spiders, chewing on sugar cane. 3) Who were one of your heroes growing up and why? Aside from my parents, I would say Lolo Victor (my maternal grandfather). He sparked my love for art when he taught me how to draw a bird when I was only 4 years old. I remember how encouraging he was when I proudly showed him my drawing. Whether it really looked like a bird or not, I just knew I was forever hooked on the creative process. 4) What/who motivated you to become a teacher? There was no "Aha!" moment. In fact, teaching was not my original path. I had studied to practice medicine, but my heart fell away from it after graduating med school to raise a family. Jennifer was at the time (twenty years ago) working her way up as a school administrator, and I became a substitute teacher in the school district. I discovered that being in service to humanity and being a healer could also be accomplished in the classroom. 5) What inspires you to be creative? I am inspired by the thrilling notion of bringing an imagined idea or concept into the sense world. It's the Renaissance spirit (Leonardo da Vinci, another hero). Whether it is a piece of furniture, a play, a painting, or a musical composition, the process of making it tangible to see, hear, feel, and touch is exhilarating. It most often starts with, "How can I do it?" 6) Do you have a pet? What is its name? We have a tuxedo cat named George. He was born the day before my family moved from Fair Oaks, CA, to Davis, from a stray momma cat who adopted us a month or two before that. We also have a bunny named Bun-Bun. The two like to forage in the backyard. 7) What is one of your favorite foods? There are several traditional Filipino dishes that I love, love, loved as a kid, and still do - comfort foods that my taste buds will always crave - adobo, kare-kare, dinuguan, lumpia! Or fried calamari, when it's on the menu. Sashimi, on special occasions. ONLY ONE?! 8) If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be? Possessing a chi-bending skill like the Force. 9) Why do you want to teach at Syrendell Summer Camp? My wife Jennifer and I wanted to create something special for families who share the same vision for their children of a wholesome, joyful, creative, inspiring hands-on program. It is a way for us to give to our community a unique experience, a top-notch camp experience, with super-talented and super-dedicated people like Trisha and Brian and Karen. Who are the teachers at Syrendell Summer Camp 2017? They are creative people with a passion for teaching. And snacking! Meet Brian Wolfe, our culinary arts instructor.  Robyn and Brian Wolfe 1) Where were you born and where did you live as a kid? I was born in Juneau, Alaska. I grew up in a military family and we moved every two years until I was in high school. I don't remember living in Alaska (it was probably too cold for me anyway). When I was a kid we lived in Alaska, Virginia, Arizona, New Mexico, and California. 2) What did you like to do as a kid? As a kid, I loved martial arts, playing baseball and basketball, collecting baseball cards, drawing and painting, playing the guitar, and snacking! (I guess this is what I like to do as an adult too). 3) Who were one of your heroes growing up and why? My Dad has always been a hero to me. He inspired me to be interested in a wide range of activities and to always strive to learn more about myself and the world around me. He was a Commander in the Coast Guard, a Judo black belt, an architect, musician, and he now owns a community theater! From martial arts to music to painting back drops for plays, my love for the arts comes from my dad. 4) What/who motivated you to become a teacher? My mom was an elementary school teacher for 30 years. Her dedication and passion for teaching definitely rubbed off on me. I was also lucky enough to have some amazing coaches and martial arts instructors growing up. The inspiration that I've received from good teachers in my life inspire me to be the best teacher I can be. 5) What inspires you to be creative? As an introvert, I'm not always the most socially outgoing person. Art and music has been a great way for me to express myself and connect with people. I also love to be creative when I cook and I'm grateful to have a family that puts up with me making a huge mess in the kitchen and testing out all of my recipes on them. 6) Do you have a pet? What is its name? One of our cats is named Hendrix after the greatest rock guitar player who ever lived. Hendrix the cat has a big ego, loves attention, and he's an accomplished hunter. Our other cat, Henley, is a giant, reclusive Maine coon named after Don Henley, drummer and lead singer for the Eagles. Our cats are rock stars. 7) What is one of your favorite foods? I love a good turkey sandwich with everything on it! Turkey, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, bacon, dijon mustard, mayonnaise, toasted sourdough bread! 8) If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be? I would be able to make turkey sandwiches appear out of thin air! This is such a tough question. Actually, I think time travel would be a really cool superpower! 9) Why do you want to teach at Syrendell Summer Camp? Rick and Jennifer Tan see everything through a beautiful, artistic lens. The attention to detail, quality of staff, and atmosphere of creativity and fun is like no other camp for kids out there. AND, I get to cook great food with the kids and EAT all week! Arts, crafts, food, play... what more can you ask for!? Who are the teachers that teach at Syrendell Summer Camp? They are kind, creative souls who were once children too! This is first of a series of interviews with these wonderful nature folk. Meet Trisha Lambert, our early childhood track instructor.  1) Where were you born and where did you live as a kid? I was born in San Diego and lived there my whole life until I moved to Davis for College. 2) What did you like to do as a kid? As a kid I loved being outside, at the beach, playing in the canyons and going to the San Diego Zoo when ever I could. In my early teens I walked everywhere with my best friend- we walked miles home from school just to be together, we would just talk and talk the whole way. In the summer we would walk miles to the beach because we just loved to walk and felt like we had all the time in the world. 3) Who were one of your heroes growing up and why? My dad was my biggest hero! He knew so much about everything- especially plants and gardening. I still love to garden. I also remember him motivating me to have good spelling- he could connect any possible grown up job to needing to have good spelling! 4) What/who motivated you to become a teacher? A love of children. 5) What inspires you to be creative? Nature the most, if I don't have much time in nature I find I have trouble being creative. 6) Do you have a pet? What is its name? Shadow. I found him when he was a tiny, tiny kitten in the snow in South Dakota. 7) What is one of your favorite foods? I really enjoy fresh berries in the summer. I currently live surrounded by berries! Heaven! 8) If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be? To be able to heal all people with love. 9) Why do you want to teach at Syrendell Summer Camp? I love working with young children and I love the adults that run the camp. I love crafting! and enjoying helping children learn that they too can be creative. |
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