My Berkeley Summer

Dolly's Port Side

Recycled Nature Center Aquarium Cabinet

My Beautiful Assistant

Tessie and I spent our summer in the Berkeley Marina where I worked as a Recreation Activities Leader for the City of Berkeley from June thru August. Prepping for our trip south involved renovating Dolly the Cargo van to Dolly the Camper Van. This is a building project of mine that would last the entire summer. The process included adding insulation, installing counters/cabinets, a functioning kitchen (including plumbing), a settee/bed conversion, and exterior paint job. Thanks out to Wayne for cutting the insulation panels into manageable pieces and Roz and Annette for the use of their Anacortes garage! 

Our Hero Meg

Our trip south to California in Dolly (named so for her impressive rack) included stops in Port Townsend to visit with Corine, Jak, and puppy Piper; Bremerton to visit Carol and her kitties and plant a vegetable garden; and Mt. Shasta to hang out with Meg, our sweet San Felipe friend. 

Back in Berkeley on Scott's Boat

Little Tessa

Tess and I stayed on a sailboat in the marina and had such fun hanging out with Janet and dog Sammy and Clara and Sarah. Many thanks for the loan of household goods from all. It was simply wonderful to see Jolanda and Tod and meet their new baby girl Tessa! Other visits included dinner at Marion's with her and Phoebe; watching the Olympics with Kathy and Carol Beth; hanging with Melissa, Greg, and Mattie; Picante's with Captain Rich; lunch with Rachel; Indus Village with Jim; visiting with Dara, Sasha, and Jake; dinners with Joel; seeing Jon, Karen, and Edgar; and partying with Abby, Karen S., Frances, Sam, Nancy, the AP staff, and Nature  Center staff Patty and Tomas. Whew!

Adventure Playground Crew

Jon Hard at Work

Working with returning staff in Adventure Playground (AP) was a definite highlight of my summer as we welcomed three new staff into the fold.  It was especially rewarding witnessing the two young men I had mentored as kids (Jon and Andrew) develop into excellent trainees. Mama Bird was very proud! 

Getting Ready for Summer

For those unfamiliar with Berkeley's Adventure Playground, it is a City of Berkeley park that opened in 1978 as part of an adventure playground movement sweeping the U.S. in the late 70's. Adventure playgrounds originated in post-World War 2 Europe when it was observed that kids preferred to play in the rubble from the war than in organized playgrounds. Adventure playgrounds reflect the personality of the communities in which they "live". Being set in a marina away from residential neighborhoods has helped keep Berkeley's AP "junkyard" playground style alive (one of only 3 still open in the U.S.) - that, and the unwavering support of the City of Berkeley who understands and appreciates the value of this unique and precious resource. 

Alex, Loren, and Youth Volunteer Joyce Link the Crow's Nest to the Spiral Fort

Loren, Joyce, Playground Kid Marina & Youth Volunteer Evan

Elements of Berkeley's AP include fort building, a climbing net, a zipline, reclaimed boats, gardens, balancing ropes, and a tire swing.  It's a child's paradise and a place where they can do whatever their imagination inspires in them. We teach them how to use real hammers and saws to build forts and small projects and give them buckets of paint to use as they wish. We average over 500 people each weekend day, including many international visitors who plan us into their itinerary. This popularity and reputation are reasons Newsweek ranked us one of the nation’s top ten play spaces for kids.

Loren and Alex Celebrate Moustache Day

Sky

Summer is especially fun in AP, being open 7 days a week! Monday thru Friday we offer activities for the public, everything from bench building, mural painting, and candle making to fishing off the pier, making solar ovens, and playground olympics (including sawing and hammering contests!).  It's a lot of hard, dirty work but it sure is a lot of fun!

Picture Perfect

Building the Golden Gate Bridge

One of my highlights of the summer was teaching tool usage. There's nothing more satisfying then walking a kid through a creative concept and having them be successful. This life skill - the ability to execute a creative thought and the confidence that results from it - is the biggest reward for us 'kid folk'. Having a child exclaim, "I DID it!" after they sink that last nail or cut through a board with that last stroke of the saw really touches your heart. They then take that ability and new confidence out into the world. 

Scott Installing the World's Smallest Sink (Thanks, Jak!)

Obsessed with Squirrels!

Solar Powered Fort

Tess and I had such fun hanging out with our old friends in Antioch (Scott, Lianne, Sumi, and Chrisy). Many thanks to Scott for helping to complete Dolly's transformation. Had a blast hanging out in the Antioch heat eating ice cream, onion dip, and TJ's chips with you, buddy.  Also had some nice visits with my brother Daniel and sisters Robin and Cheryl. 

Fun Visit to Point Isabel (Dog) Park

Super Special Spectacular Sunday Crew

Other wonderful summer memories: Tess and I watching 4th of July fireworks from the top of an AP fort; catching up with old friends at the Lara Family Reunion in Penngrove; hanging out with Clara and Sarah at the kite festival; spending time with my AP peeps having spontaneous fun; my birthday day starting with Corine & Jak at Mama's Royal Cafe, lunch with Aunt Helen, and dinner and hot tub with Patty and Dave; and so many more to make it a terrific season. 

I Love These Crazies (AP Staff)!

Tess and I departed Berkeley on August 25th, stopped over in Mt. Shasta at Meg's, then home to Anacortes to reunite the family once again! It was great to be at our new home just in time to grab the end of summer and set out on a cruise of the San Juan Islands!