*About Kid City with Rosemary Richie & Kerry Yates
(2.5 – 5)
My five kids grew up coming to Family Camp starting in 1977. Our family’s collective fond memories of Cazadero cannot be overstated. We always had a ball! The unique environment that is “Kid City” grew out of my experience as a young mom coming to Caz. I realized the heart of a family camp should be the program for the under-fives. Kid City has long been a comfortable place for our youngest campers to recreate. It provides the familiar surroundings of a preschool environment: sand, blocks, and easels with paints, all in a ‘strange new place’. If the littlest ones are comfortable, then the rest of the family can relax too. I have run a small school in Berkeley for the last 30 years. I’m a trained Montessori teacher and Orff and Kodaly music specialist.
Kid City is centrally located in the shady redwood grove right across from the dining hall. The camp comes to the kids at Kid City. The staff comes to teach classes in music and dance, adult classes come to perform and present throughout the week. I’m free throughout the day to present my entire repertoire of folk songs, finger plays, and folk stories to the children. I will have several assistants who are experienced and comfortable with children. Parents are always welcome to join us, and are especially invited to share a quiet moment in the book corner before dropping their children off.
Monday Kerry and I host an open house from 2:00 PM to 4:45 PM, please bring your children and introduce them to us.
Starting Tuesday we open at 9:30 am to give parents a chance to drop off their children and say their good-byes before 1st Period starts. At 10:00 am we meet with Christina’s creative play. Then at the second period, starting at 11:10 am parents are invited to join us for a swim in the pool at this special time reserved for the young ones (Parents are not required to attend). The lifeguard will be at the pool to help, along with one of our staff.After lunch, children rest during the all-camp quiet time (1:15 PM – 2:15pm). Kid City reopens at 3:30pm.
As part of our program for the youngest campers, musical specialists from a variety of musical traditions will present classes during 3rd and 4th period in our shady grove. Check your session for details. The afternoon is also the time that classes or individuals make “guest appearances” at Kid City.
For many years, 4th period has been reserved for Kid City Jam, attracting fine players from the talented camper and staff pool of musicians. The children are always invited to join in the fun on percussion or in song. We provide morning and afternoon snacks at Kid City.
- Rosemary Richie
