empowering kids to get out. be active. have fun!
Colette Nottage Crafton
Colette studied as a biochemist and educator in England and after graduating from Kings College London taught at high school and college both in London and in Santa Barbara. After immigrating in 2001 to Santa Barbara with her family, she now uses her business skills and operational experience to manage and develop local companies and their projects, along with donating time to the administration of a number of local charities.
Loving to work with children she has volunteered at her son and daughter's schools and led programs for youth soccer, tennis and yoga. She has played tennis for over 20 years and enjoys yoga to support every day health.
Luke Barnes
Hello! My name is Luke Barnes and I'm a student at Santa Barbara Community College. Growing up I adored sports, and my parents put me into every youth sports camp/league they could. In high school, I was a four-year basketball and lacrosse player, as well as the captain of each team my senior year. For my coaching experience, I am well versed in multiple different sports, from coaching youth basketball camps, youth flag football, little league, and recently being the assistant coach for my high school's boys basketball team.
I love being able to pass down the knowledge I have learned over the years to kids in the youth sports community. I believe that participating in sports at a young age allows kids to create new friendships while also learning basic life skills that will help them as they grow into young adults. I understand that not everyone has a future in athletics, that's why I try to make each session as fun and creative as I can. I am eager to start my next chapter as a coach and cannot wait to grow the love for sports!
Will Kirschke
biking specialist
Will Kirschke has raced mountain bikes on a national level for the past 5 years scoring top 10 results at the US Open of Mountain Biking and the Big Mountain Enduro national series. Having always been connected with the outdoors, he combined his passion for bike riding and discovered mountain biking when he was 12 years old. Since then, he has been addicted to mountain bike riding and wants to share his passion for the sport with his community. Will has years of experience coaching BMX camps in Santa Barbara, now moving on to a mountain bike-specific program that better suits his interests and skills. He’s excited to grow the sport and show how mountain biking can be not only a fun activity but beneficial physically and mentally.
Paige Sleep
volleyball, softball, soccer, nature & hiking
Paige Sleep was born and raised in Santa Barbara. She grew up playing sports in the community. She played softball, soccer, and volleyball. She received her teaching credential and Masters in Education at UCSB and is a teacher in Santa Barbara. With about 5 years of teaching experience, she had the opportunity to teach PE. She attributes much of her
foundational behavior management skills to this first job as a PE teacher.
Paige loves working with kids and incorporating play and movement into her daily lesson plans as a teacher. She is
excited to get kids excited about getting outdoors during the summer and after-school programs.
Paige is enthusiastic about living a healthy lifestyle and hopefully engaging the young athletes in this mindset, while showing them the beautiful area we live in.
Joel Michelson
sports leadership and fitness
x
Simeon Michelson
athletics, fitness and conditioning,
long-distance specialist, nature & hiking
Coach Simeon Michelson specializes in running, hiking, and swimming. As a homeschooled high schooler, he realized that there were few opportunities for his peers to run competitively, so he founded a K-12 team enabling homeschoolers to run. By the end of his tenure, he had coached five different homeschool All Americans, leading the middle school program to a 3rd place finish nationally. At Westmont College, Simeon took up race walking and he currently holds Westmont class records in the 3k and 5k race walks, and is ranked #23 nationally in both events. Additionally, Simeon has 5 years of swim coaching experience, most recently as the head coach of the GJCC Tigersharks. Finally, as a former Eagle Scout, Simeon enjoys hiking, nature identification, and has a deep appreciation for the benefits of playing and learning outdoors on child development. Aside from sports, Simeon is an avid actor, improviser, historian and poet.
Yehudah Rice
hiking and outdoorsMan
Yehudah Rice (nick named "Slug") is an avid backpacker whose adventures have led him across the 2,650 mile Pacific Crest Trail and up to Thorong La Pass at 17,500 ft. in the Himalayas. Yehudah has been working in outdoor education for the past 5 years, bringing excitement and creativity to every group he works with.
Isaiah Merrick
surfing specialist
Isaiah comes from a family of avid surfers, so the salt water runs in his veins. Born and raised in Santa Barbara, Isaiah's immersion into the surf culture began in the womb and he has been surfing around the world for the last 15 years. He's worked at a large surf camps teaching young surfers for close to four years, as well as private coaching for beginner to intermediate level surfers. Always working with kids and growing up with two sisters, Isaiah's just happy to share his passion for the ocean with younger shredders.