Youth Adventure Program 2008

Dr. Jay Woodward is excited to continue his "engagement" as Camp Director of the Youth Adventure Program for the summer of 2008! His "honeymoon" with the program is over, but he is excited to once again "take the plunge" as director for the 7th consecutive year. Besides coordinating the camp, Jay teaches several courses for the Department of Educational Psychology and serves on the board of directors for the newly created Institute for Applied Creativity at Texas A&M University.

Jay holds a B.A. in Psychology, a M.S. in Educational Psychology with an emphasis on educating gifted and talented students, and was awarded his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology in 2004.

Jay has been "married" to Texas A&M (both as a staff member and a student) for over a dozen years and he certainly bleeds maroon (though don't poke him to find out). In his spare time, Jay enjoys traveling, following A&M athletics, playing with his beagle puppy, trying to hit a golf ball, attending live entertainment (from the stage to the silver screen), watching all reality television, reading a good book, singing tenor in church choir, and (most importantly) trying to stay in the good graces of his beautiful new wife Catherine, whom he wed on January 14, 2007.

Brett Taylor is eager to resume his duties as Camp Manager and headmaster for the 2008 Youth Adventure Program for what appears to be a magical summer. Just like Harry Potter, this will be Brett’s seventh (and potentially final) year with the camp after serving as a counselor in 2001 and the camp manager since 2002. Brett holds a degree in elementary education from the University of North Texas and has been teaching for 15 years in the Plano Independent School District. The past five years he has served as the lead teacher at the district's outdoor learning center, taking students on nature hikes and searching for fossils. When not trekking through the Forbidden Forest or acting as "Keeper of the Keys" at Tradition Dorm, Brett’s interests include concocting chocolate desserts, enjoying a variety of music and movies, attending Dallas Stars hockey games as a fan and season ticket holder, and reading books by authors Dean Koontz and J.K. Rowling.

Laura Stafford will return as Dorm Parent for the fourth consecutive year after serving in this capacity for YAP 2004 - 2007. This is "Mom's" sixth full year with the camp after participating as a counselor for all four weeks of the 2003 session. She holds a B.S. degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas A&M and a M.S. in Educational Psychology. She has taught 2nd grade at Mary Branch Elementary in Bryan for seven years (lead teacher for past five) and holds her certification in gifted and talented education.

From one classroom to another, Laura enjoys teaching the youth Sunday school class at West Oaks Baptist Church. In addition to all of these activities, she is married to Mike Stafford and has a 22-year old son, James, who attends SHSU in Huntsville. She also has a lovely princess puppy named Heifer.

Andrew Martinez will serve as Recreation Director for YAP 2007 after serving the previous three years as a camp counselor. It is no "inconvenient truth" that he is a recent graduate of Texas A&M with a bachelors in Meterology with a minor in Mathematics. He is a proud member of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of 2007!!! WH07P!!! When he is not working on his academics, Andrew is a regular at Reed Arena, watching the nationally-ranked Fightin' Texas Aggies basketball teams. In the fall, Andrew will pursue a Ph.D. in School Psychology at Texas A&M while trying to emulate Billy Gillispie in every way possible.

Jurassic Janet Sandera joins Jay in the office for her first year as YAP's Administrative Assistant. Janet was born during the bighairstoric era (1986 A.D.) in San Antonio, Texas, where she was raised in a family of AlamoCitysauruses, a species known for their sense of humor and love of Mexican food. After high school, Janet migrated to College Station to become the proudest member of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of 2008. Currently, she is working on her B.S. degree in Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences, with an emphasis in youth development. (Pretty smart dinosaur!)

This summer will be Jurassic Janet's fourth year with the Youth Adventure Program. When she is not busy with YAP-related activities or studying hard with her fellow Aggiesauruses, Jurassic Janet enjoys spending time with family and friends. Like any dinosaur, she also enjoys playing outside, going to the beach to fish and attending concerts featuring her favorite Texas countrysaurus bands.

Melissa Matula can't wait to return to YAP Camp for her third summer. After two years of being a counselor she is ready for new adventures that come with expanding the theater program. Melissa graduated from Texas A&M in December 2005 with a BS in Biology and is currently teaching Integrated Physics and Chemistry at MacArthur High School in San Antonio. Although she is a science nerd she also loves the theater. Melissa was a member of MSC Opera and Performing Arts Society at Texas A&M for four years and is delighted to be around the theater once again. Some of her favorite shows are Wicked, Rent, La Boheme, Ragtime, and Stomp. Some other great pastimes are hanging out with friends and family, watching movies, being outside, going dancing, and just having fun. She is so excited about this summer knows that YAP 2008 is going to be the best EVER!!!