Sarah Wells is returning to Noe Valley/Twin Peaks for a fourth summer, this year as Camp Director! After three years as Art Instructor, the torch has been passed by the lovely Ms. Sara Statler, and this Sarah is happy to rise to the challenge and thoroughly excited in anticipation of this summer. During the school year, Sarah works as a Lead Teacher at Miraloma Educational Enrichment Program, and is completing her Master’s degree at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology. In addition, this year she helped to collaborate with Camp Edmo and MOCHA (Museum of Children’s Art) to create the 2012 Art Curriculum. Creativity is where she shines brightest, and for Sarah, Camp Edmo and Camp EdTech are the perfect place to spend the summer.

I am so thrilled to have the honor to be Camp Director for Camp Edmo’s Noe Valley/Twin Peaks location. Being a part of this site since it’s inception, I have watched the children and our staff grow and blossom, and it is such a wonderful opportunity to have an even bigger role in making that happen this summer. Life long learning is something that is of utmost importance to me, and combined with creative play, camp offers me the opportunity to influence children’s lives in meaningful and magical ways. Camp Edmo and Camp EdTech are the places where fun, learning, laughter, and imagination make one well-rounded summer (not to mention a whole lot of happy campers). Can’t wait for the greatest summer yet!“

Since joining the Edventure More team in 2010 as an In Class Science Presenter, I have had the pleasure of traveling to hundreds of Bay Area classrooms to present our exciting hands-on science curriculum. This will be my second summer at Camp Edmo Noe/Twin Peaks, and I look forward to seeing both new and familiar faces as the 2nd-4th grade Science and Art Instructor.

I can’t wait to share this year’s amazing experiments and projects with our campers – it’s going to be a great time!  See you this summer!”

Elizabeth Sylva received her Masters of Arts in Teaching and teaching credential in May 2012 from University of San Francisco. Elizabeth is currently pursuing a career in teaching. She also holds a MFA in Writing from California College of the Arts and continues to write poetry and make art as a lifelong passion. Elizabeth lives in Bernal Heights where she enjoys the sunshine, great food, and friends. She loves to read, cruise through the city on a jog or bicycle ride, as well as spend time outdoors hiking and camping.

After two amazing summers at Camp Edmo Noe Valley/Twin Peaks as a counselor, I am stoked to be back as a Science Instructor this year! I hope to do lots of crazy science and have a ton of fun working with the kids and the fabulous Edmo staff!”

This will be Paula’s first summer with Camp Edmo. During the school year Paula teaches Art History at the Kansas City Art Institute and Blue River Community College. She also gives tours at the Arabia Steamboat Museum in Kansas City, MO. Paula earned her Master’s Degree in Art History at the University of Kansas and her Bachelor’s Degree in Art History and Painting at the Kansas City Art Institute.  Her education experience includes working as a K-12 Substitute Teacher, a Graduate Teaching Assistant, and a Peer Tutor, but her passion for learning extends beyond the classroom setting.  Her hobbies include drawing, photography, knitting, sewing, cooking, and visiting art museums across the country.

I can’t wait to be a part of Camp Edmo this summer!  The unique curriculum, the enthusiastic staff, and the creativity of the campers will make this an experience to remember.  I am especially excited about seeing our campers’ spirit on Costume Thursdays!”

This is Mia’s third year with Camp Edmo at the Noe Valley/Twin Peaks location. Mia graduated from San Francisco State University this past May with a BA in Drama. Mia is excited to return to camp and fired up with the Edmo vibe.

I can’t wait to rock the Edmo vibe all summer long!”

This will be Nick’s second summer with Camp Edmo! He’s super stoked for an action-packed season full of art, animation, and science fun! Nick is a freshman at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts pursuing a degree in Photography & Imaging. Outside of camp you can often find Nick following his passions for photography, film, writing, and food.

I am super excited to help campers learn about the arts and sciences in such fun and innovative ways! I can’t wait to see the levels of enthusiasm and passion as the campers rock that Edmo Vibe!”

Melisa Bautista is a graduate of San Francisco State University where she received her BA in Political Science and a minor in Asian American Studies. Melisa is a passionate and positive individual who always stays hungry for life. Her hope is to become an educator in order to transform the classrooms and the educational systems that are affecting our youth today. Melisa also plans to pursue her Masters/Credential in Secondary Education in the near future.

In her spare time, Melisa loves hiking, cooking, spending time with family & friends, and traveling! She currently is a Program Leader with the after-school program, THINK Together, at C.E. Utt Middle School in Orange County, CA. This will be Melisa’s first time working with Camp Edmo and she cannot wait to come back to the City by the Bay!

I am so honored to be joining Camp Edmo for the first time this summer! One of the reasons I LOVE working with youth is their curiosity about the world and the energy they bring. It’s contagious! I am excited to inspire and motivate the kids at Camp Edmo through interactive and fun learning, as well as the opportunity for them to teach and inspire me. It’s going to be an AMAZING Summer!”

This is Phuong’s second year with Edventure More and returning as a Camp Counselor.  Phuong has worked for AmeriCorps for two years through the Jumpstart for Young Children Program. Phuong graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts and a Master of Arts in Education from San Francisco State University. She continues to pursue her career in early childhood education. During the school year, Phuong works as a Lead Teacher at Jose Ortega Umoja After School Program. Phuong is so thrilled to work for Camp Edmo because she loves making connections with the campers and continually finding exciting new ways to provide them assets in order to inspire their minds; helping them to become successful leaders in the future. Phuong loves to go to the beach, watch Hong Kong action movies, make greeting cards, and cook different ethnic food.

The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you”-BB King

Angela Owczarek is a college student who is excited for her first year of camp with Camp Edmo and Camp EdTech at Rooftop! A native of San Francisco, Angela is currently studying in New York City and can’t think of a better reason to return home for the summer. She works during the year as a Resident Assistant to 150 freshmen students and once she says goodbye to them, she will be ready to jump right back into another zany learning community. A lover of art, guacamole, and lucky pennies, Angela is ready to try anything from dancing to animation with all of the campers who she’ll get to meet this summer!

I am so excited by the opportunity to dive into an atmosphere where learning doesn’t always involve the twenty page papers and required classes that exist in college, but rather still involves curiosity and fun. I want to share my knowledge just as much as I want to learn things from our campers – whether it’s a secret handshake, a cool science fact, or anything about their lives and what they love to do. I’ll see you all this summer, all set to work hard, laugh a lot, and learn a ton!”

Sophia Mitguard grew up in the Bernal Heights and Sunset neighborhoods of San Francisco, attending Lakeshore, AP Giannini and Lowell High School. She spent six years participating in after school programs and summer camps, and formed some strong opinions about what makes a great enrichment program. She also spent two summers working at San Francisco’s family Camp Mather, where she indulged her love of being outdoors in the beauty of Yosemite. Sophia is currently a junior at San Diego State University, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Art, and recently enjoyed an internship tutoring children in an after school program. She is particularly interested in the therapeutic value that art, music, and creative writing can have for children during their critical developmental years.

I am very excited to join the staff of Camp Edmo for my first summer. I always loved going to camp as a kid, and now it’s my chance to give back and be the type of counselor that I was lucky enough to have as a role model. I look forward to helping kids explore their imaginations and helping them to reach their fullest creative potential. I can’t wait to see what kind of fun adventures are in store!”