Meet our 2022 Summer Staff
August 15, 2022
Summer at the ranch is a season beaming with fun, and first-time camp experiences that bring families closer together that create an opportunity for campers to learn, grow, and heal in nature! Each day overflows with activity; from rides on the ziplines, climbing the high ropes tower, field trips to the wildlife refuge, lessons on archery, and opportunities to learn about and experience the many benefits of time spent in the outdoors. Summer at the Ranch is fast paced, fun, and requires the coordination of our specially trained and competent staff and interns to get the job done.
Our summer successes are not possible without our summer staff and their day-to-day hard work and dedication. They are a vital element to the delivery of our mission! Despite the drought and unprecedented heat, our team remained positive and focused on creating the best experience possible for our campers. We are also thrilled that so many of our staff returned after prior internships to spend another summer with us. We are fortunate and thankful to have had such an incredible team this summer and are excited to introduce you to our crew!
Haley Pyle and Nicole Bittner returned as Summer Staff after completing their Therapeutic Recreation Fieldwork internships in 2021. Haley recently graduated from Texas State University’s Therapeutic Recreation program and Nicole will be graduating from the same program at the end of this year.
Michael Weahkee completed his third summer with us as our first ever Recreation Administration Intern, with 400 hours of service! Michael graduated Texas State University with a degree in Recreation Administration in early August.
Tori Martinez returned for her second internship this year and is completing her Sustainable Studies degree at the University of Texas. Tori created new conservation-based curriculum that includes lessons on water and wildlife conservation and recycling.
Additionally, we welcomed two new faces this summer. Paula Tucker, a Therapeutic Recreation master’s student and adaptive physical education teacher for San Marcos ISD. Paula could be found most days helping belay kids on our high ropes tower and spreading joy around the ranch.
Colby Croxton, served as our Camp Glimmer, Camp Cook. Colby helped coordinate, prepare, and serve meals for campers sponsored by Glimmer of Hope. He helped ensure that all campers had healthy, delicious, and well-balanced meals and snacks each day.
Through our partnership with Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, their intern, Rebecca Sada, led educational programming on Central Texas native birds and insects accompanied by field trips to the Refuge. Being fluent in Spanish, Rebecca translated lessons and educational resources so that all campers and their parents could fully absorb the lessons taught. She has also been exceedingly helpful in translating directions for our ziplines and rock wall increasing participant safety and engagement.
We are confident that our summer staff and interns will continue to do amazing things within their chosen fields and thankful for the talents they have shared with Candlelight Ranch! We look forward to seeing where the future takes them!