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Full time Professional Staff:
Associate Executive Director - Mark Thompson Program Department Head- Zayanne Thompson
Castaway Program Director- Tim Pirkey Administrative Assistant - Esther Mckee
Food Service Manager -Robyn Abadie Maintenance Director - Mark Carrick
Associate Executive Director: Mark Thompson
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Mark Thompson started his camping career as a counselor at Camp Hollows in Toronto, Canada in 1989. Mark's passion for aquatics and background in health and safety made him a perfect match for YMCA Camp Surf. Mark graduated from Springfield College in 2002 and in 2009 he received his Masters Degree at the University of San Diego. He lives at Camp with his wife Zayanne, son Keaton and dogs Kela and Char.
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Program Department Head : Zayanne Thompson
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Zayanne has combined her love for the environment and teaching in her role as the Program Department Head at YMCA Camp Surf. She graduated from UCSB with a degree in Environmental Biology and worked for the US National Park Service, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, I Love a Clean San Diego, and YMCA Camp Jones Gulch before going back to school and earning a Teaching Credential and Master Degree in Education from SDSU. While in grad school Zayanne was the seasonal Summer Director for Camp Surf and then the Outdoor Education Director at YMCA Camp Marston from 1993-98. She moved back to the beach and Camp Surf in 1999 where she lives with her husband Mark, their son Keaton, and animal friends Jojo, TJ, Kela and Char. Zayanne has a passion for the environment and enjoys gardening, yoga, volunteering, and reading with Keaton!
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Group Services Program Director : Tim Pirkey
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Tim came to the San Diego Camping Branch in 1999, after graduating from Northern Arizona University with a degree in Speech Pathology. After filling several different seasonal roles at Camp Surf, Tim was hired on full-time as the Summer Camp and Outdoor Education Program Director in December, 2004. In addition to his camp experience, Tim is also an accomplished volleyball coach, having coached athletes from the ages of 10 to 25 years old. Some of his favorite things include teaching Team-Building and Leadership Classes, as well as mountain biking, surf kayaking, swimming, and hanging with his dog Harry.
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Administration Specialist II : Esther McKee
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Esther has worked at Camp Surf for over 15 years. She started as a part time office clerk and soon after was promoted to Office Manager and later to Administration Specialist. Esther enjoys the daily challenges that her position offers by assisting the directors in the general operation of camp. Her focus is Human Resources and Camp Store Management. Esther has been married for 30 years; she is the proud mother of two college graduates. Her favorite pastimes are gardening, walking, and bicyling.
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Maintenance Director : Mark Carrick
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Mark joined Camp Surf in 2002, in the maintenance department, and is now in charge of keeping the enitre facility running. Mark adds a creative twist to everything he does. His artisitc abilities have provided everything from fun murals in the bathrooms to creative drinking fountains and outdoor showers around camp. Mark enjoys fishing, painting, sculpting, making furniture, classical dance, and spending time with his wife Gillian and his children Coatney and Quinn.
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Food Service Director : Robyn Abadie
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Robyn adds flavor to more than just 1,200 meals a day at Camp Surf. She started here in 2001 as a cook, worked her way up to a kitchen supervisor, and has been our Food Services Director since March 2007. Robyn is the driving force behind Activate America at camp, and has worked to improve the quality of our food service- both in nutrition and taste! |
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