All camp staff members are pre-screened, highly qualified, and CPR and first aid certified. Additionally, our field science educators are certified Wilderness First Responders.
2010-2011 Staff
Ally, Camp Director
Ally is no stranger to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Before beginning at Headlands Institute, she spent 7 years working for Park Partners and the National Park Service (NPS). Ally began her camp career as camp manager for Crissy Field Center Summer Camp in the Presidio. She has also taught outdoor educational programs at Fort Funston, Crissy Field Center, and the Marin Headlands. As a NPS ranger, she led interpretive public programs and hikes at Alcatraz, the Presidio, and the Marin Headlands. Ally is currently working towards completing her graduate degree in Geography at San Francisco State University focusing on children's environmental knowledge. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring the natural world with her trusty dogs, getting crafty, and eating dim sum on Clement Street in San Francisco.
I am looking forward to a terrific summer filled with happy campers, laughter, outdoor explorations, natural discoveries, water balloons, and fun! says Ally.
Pete, Camp Manager
Pete is extremely excited to be returning to Coastal Camp in the role of Camp Manager. Having worked as a Field Science Educator at the Headlands Institute and Coastal Camp, he is eager to make this year's Coastal Camp a smashing success. Before working at The Headlands Institute, Pete worked for two years in Burlington, Vermont as a 7th and 8th grade classroom science teacher. Pete has been a summer camp goer for longer than he can remember and has worked at summer camps for seven years. Throughout those seven years he has held numerous positions from counselor to director. Summer camp always provides amazing expereiences that remain with the camper for years. When not working for the Headlands Institute, Pete enjoys many outdoor pursuits including mountain biking, snowboarding, hiking, camping, and long walks on the beach.
Christina, Camp Administrative Assistant
Christina is thrilled to return to her role as Camp Administrative Assistant. This is Christina’s second summer with Coastal Camp and she is looking forward to another wonderful summer! During the non-summer months, Christina is the Marketing Associate at Headlands Institute. In her free time, Christina enjoys playing tennis and soccer, running outside, and exploring the nooks and crannies of San Francisco.
Counselor Staff Summer 2010
Kevin grew up in San Francisco and attended UniversityHigh School. He recently graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering out of Brown University. He is all set to pursue a master’s degree at UC Berkeley next fall. He is an ultimate Frisbee, soccer, lacrosse player, and outdoor enthusiast who has summer counselor experience. He loves working with kids and loves to travel. Ask him about the African wilderness or the Australian outback sometime!
Sara was born and raised in Branson, Missouri, the self-proclaimed live country music capital of the world. After attending the University of Missouri and obtaining her degree in Psychology and Spanish, Sara moved to North Carolina to pursue a master's degree in Counseling. Sara enjoys working with children of all ages and has experience as a swim team coach, a group leader, and a counselor. She loves being active outdoors and enjoys doing everything from hiking and canoeing to playing tennis and swimming. Sara is excited to work for an organization with such high environmental ideals and will use her love for music, art, and the outdoors to inspire the campers and staff at Coastal Camp!
Karli was born in San Anselmo, Ca and graduated from SirFrancisDrakeHigh School in 2006. She just graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and played four years on their Women’s Soccer team. She likes: silliness, sports, animals, camping and arts and crafts and she doesn’t like: danger, having migraines, wet socks or when clothes shrink in the dryer. Her best friend is her Siamese cat Jackson who she found in a gutter when he was a day old.
Kenny is a local musician and carpenter with a diverse background and a passion for outdoor pursuits. After earning an associate's degree in ecotourism, he spent two consecutive summers leading back country excursions for Wilderness Ventures. He also volunteers with the Education Through Music Foundation to help bring music education to impoverished elementary schools in the Bay area. Kenny loves traveling, climbing, backpacking, surfing, scuba diving, paddling, and sharing the joys of music.
Brendan has lived in San Anselmo, a small town north of the Marin Headlands, his whole life. He has always enjoyed working with kids and got his first job as a counselor-in-training when he was in sixth grade. He was attending Sir Francis Drake High School when he began to truly explore the nature that Marin had to offer and fell in love with it. He is now entering his sophomore year at Northern Arizona University in the mountains of Flagstaff, Arizona, where he is majoring in Parks and Recreation Management. Although he loves the forests there, he is excited to get back to the bay to learn more about the ecosystem and make some new friends.
Serena is a recent graduate from MillsCollege in OaklandCalifornia with a double major in Psychology and Philosophy. She has spent many years as a camp counselor and believes there is nothing better than playing silly games and being outside all summer long. She enjoys backpacking, kayaking and swimming; she just added bouldering to her list of favorite things to do and she prefers corner brownies above any other treat.
Virginia began her experience at the Headlands Institute when she was in middle school. As a student she was not only amazed and inspired by the staff’s enthusiasm towards environmental education, but her experience also sparked a new found passion for the environment. Her deep interest for the environment began at the Headlands Institute. This led her to an opportunity to become a TEAM intern at the Headlands Institute during her senior year of high school. Now, she is currently a student at San Francisco State University majoring in Environmental Sustainability. She can’t wait to share her knowledge and passion towards nature with you this summer. Her hobbies include world travel, world music, and dancing the Bachata.
Jamie just finished her second year at the University of California Berkeley, spending most of her time contemplating the intersection of human and earth history. She spent last summer traversing the arctic wilderness, living with the bears and mosquitoes in a rustic cabin under the midnight sun. She loves basketball, hiking, water-color and watching the sunset on summer nights. She's been a camp counselor most summers and enjoys spending time with children, learning together and having tons of fun!
Noah is looking forward to getting outside and having some awesome adventures now that he has finished applying to medical school. This is his first year working for the Headlands Institute but, while finishing his degree in Biology, Noah taught marine ecology to 4th graders. When he’s not working in the lab, Noah loves to climb, ski, and hike as much of California as he can. His greatest claim to fame is setting the record for his high school's pie eating contest by eating 2 pounds of cherry pie in one minute, 7 years later, it has never been broken.
Parents' Reviews
Administrative staff is very hands-on, knowledgeable, and extremely friendly. I found the camp manager and director to be very easy to approach and talk to. They were very responsive to my questions and needs.
—Parent of 3rd and 4th grade campers, Corte Madera
I spoke several times to staff that helped me with shuttle, extended care sign-up, and getting us ready for camp. Staff both emailed and called me when I was out of town traveling the week before camp! Professional, efficient, and warm!
—Parent of 4th grader, Larkspur
Outstanding counselors and I felt totally safe leaving my children with them all day.
— Parent of camper
Questions? Call (415) 331-1548 or send us an email at coastalcamp@naturebridge.org.
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