Meet Kaci Thol, Recreation Supervisor at Edison Community Center

SPEAKER_00 0:00

And we're back with another episode of Unlocking Huntington Beach. What's going on? My name is Ladestone, and we have another good one for you today. We have a very special guest, Casey Thaw. Welcome to the podcast. Now, I'm just going to cue it because you've been working with the city for 23 years, living here for 24 years. You are the, I don't want to butcher this, the recreational supervisor at the Edison Community Center. Is that correct? Did I say that properly?

SPEAKER_01 0:26

Yeah, so the supervisor at Edison Community Center. Yep.

SPEAKER_00 0:29

Yes, okay. And we're going to be talking about all things that uh events, things that you should be taking advantage of

Camp HB Summer Day Camp & Why It Sells Out at Spring Registration

SPEAKER_00 0:35

the city puts on, things that Casey is involved with, maybe some things that Casey is involved with that knows, and she's also been a part of things like the city gym and just really been affiliated with the city of Honeyto Beach for a long time. So we're really excited to have you.

SPEAKER_01 0:47

Thanks for having me.

SPEAKER_00 0:48

All right. Well, let's just kick off with stuff that's happening right now, summertime. Um, what are some of the things that people and residents of Honeytop Beach can look forward to, or something things, some of the things that are also ha ongoing in Huntington Beach?

SPEAKER_01 1:00

Yeah, so this is our busy season for our recreation um centers and community centers for that. We have a ton of summer camps. So we have a full day camp here at Murray Community Center. It's Camp HB. It's really, really popular. It actually sells out during our spring registration. So I always advise parents and everyone that's looking for something for their kids to sign up day of on that spring registration for that. Some other things is we have some fun free movie uh series for that. So it actually travels around to different parks um every

Free Summer Movie Series in HB Parks: Dates, Locations & Pre-Show

SPEAKER_01 1:35

other week. So tomorrow uh we're gonna be at Edison Community Center showing Little Rascals. You guys will be there as well. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 1:41

Yeah, we'll be there. I love that movie. I love the nostalgic pics this year too. You guys did How do you shock the kids, little rascals, and then some newer ones. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:49

For that. So then after that, we'll be at Lake Park and then we'll end the series at Worthy. So I think this is kind of a gem for the community to do something that they're looking for free low-cost programs for families to come out and watch movies at dawn at seven. Um, we host different crafts and entertainment for the kids for that. And then right at 8 p.m., we usually start playing the movie as well.

SPEAKER_00 2:12

Yeah, and and then I have I've seen like booths there, and we have stuff where we're giving out like glow, dark, like glow in the dark stuff, light up rings. I there's crafts that you mentioned. There's even goodies. There was like ice cream truck the other day. Uh, there's popcorn, there's all sorts of fun stuff. And it looks really, really fun for families. And it was actually every year it gets bigger and bigger.

Record Attendance & How To Catch the Remaining Movie Nights

SPEAKER_00 2:30

And I know that this year, because there was already one movie that was played, it was the most attended opening weekend or opening week for a movie series. So I do know if you're if you haven't seen it yet and you want to go to uh Worthy or you want to go to Lake Park or even tomorrow Edison, like you

Other Huntington Beach Summer Camps Still Taking Signups

SPEAKER_00 2:45

should guys check it out. It's really, really fun. Uh but for those camps that you were talking about, I know that you recommend spring registration. So for the parent is watching this right now, are they out of luck for this year?

SPEAKER_01 2:54

They are for camp HB, but we have a ton of other camps throughout the city that they can take, other ones like from educational camps, we have sports camps for that. So we do uh definitely have plenty of options for um for late signups for that, but just for our main city camp for that, um I always tell people you need to be on it for that spring registration.

SPEAKER_00 3:15

And then where do they go to they can be on it for next spring?

SPEAKER_01 3:18

Yeah, so um our SANS magazine goes out four times a year to all residents.

How To Register at HB Sands & City Community Centers

SPEAKER_01 3:23

So we'll give all the information to when to register. Um you can register on our website, which is hbsands.org, or you can go to any um Honey Tom Beach Community Center and sign up as well, too.

SPEAKER_00 3:34

And any of the links that we're dropping right now or anything that you want to know, we're gonna put in the show notes. So if you're watching this on YouTube, you can look at it in the in the captions section below. If you're listening to it, just don't worry about pulling over and writing it down. You will be able to find it in the show notes. Um, and so that way you're gonna have all of the information. Uh, but speaking of camps, we can kind of like transition a

Overnight Family Campout at Central Park, August 15–16

SPEAKER_00 3:55

little bit. And can we talk about the camp out?

SPEAKER_01 3:57

Sure. Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_00 3:58

So we have a camp out coming up this year, too, right?

SPEAKER_01 4:00

Yeah. So we every year we do an overnight family camp out. Um, so this is the week of August 15th and 16th. It's in Central Park on the Gothard side. There's actually a designated campsite, if you guys don't know for that. Um, so we do a ton of different activities. Um, the Sack and Stone team's gonna be there. They're they are they're our major sponsors for all events. So thank you guys for that. They're gonna have an awesome popcorn bar there. We do crafts throughout the day. We do uh an outdoor movie at nighttime. We have a couple performances for that. Um, and it's really just trying to bring a lot of families and the community in that a lot of people that have never camped before, that want to experience something um for the first time and see how doable it is. They bring their kids there. And it's, you know, there we have activities and we build stuff in there, but then again, it's like a camping scene. You know, it's you're relaxing, you're hanging out, we serve them dinner and breakfast. So it's it's a really, really fun event.

SPEAKER_00 4:56

Yeah, you don't have to fish for your food. You don't have to like you get foods provided. I think last like last year, a couple of years, I think there was um magic shows for the kids too. So I don't know if uh Billy Bonkers or somebody like that's coming back. Hey, we gotta love the Billy Bonkers. He's great. He's great. I think they're jump houses. Like it was really, really fun. And I uh yes, we're gonna be there

What Campout Night Looks Like: Dinner, Breakfast, Crafts & Magic

SPEAKER_00 5:15

as well. Uh so I'm happy that that's an event. And so if you miss out on the camps, maybe there's opportunity to go to the camp out.

SPEAKER_01 5:21

Yeah, so we still have room for registration for that. So we're we're still taking um campers and then um, yeah, like like Lane said, it's a it's a really, really fun event, um, especially if you want to try out the whole camping scene with your family.

SPEAKER_00 5:34

Has a movie been selected for that one yet or not yet?

SPEAKER_01 5:36

Not yet.

SPEAKER_00 5:37

Okay, I was hoping we'd have some sort of like teaser or something. That's okay. Is there anything happening as far as community events that we could tease that we we don't know about, or is it all kind of already public knowledge?

SPEAKER_01 5:47

A lot of the stuff is published.

HB Pier Swim Rescheduled to August 29

SPEAKER_01 5:49

Um, I think another one that's fun that we did have to reschedule that was in June was our peer swim for that. So it's a half a mile swim, and that's gonna be rescheduled to August 29th for that, which the community is loving. The weather's better, the water's warmer. So I think this might be the near future, a new month for this. Um so I think that's the the fun that what the fun one that's coming up as well.

SPEAKER_00 6:15

That was when the waves were really tall, right? And big waves, and like I think that's when like it was kind of unsafe in the water to do it then.

SPEAKER_01 6:23

Yeah, we did have to we had to cancel that. So, but I think it's gonna work out for the best.

SPEAKER_00 6:26

So yeah, it always does. It always does. Um okay, so let's talk about your experience at the city gym uh for pools and stuff like that. I think are enough people taking advantage of that, would you say, or is there is are there things that go on at the city gym that maybe is underutilized?

Inside the City Gym & Indoor Pool, Built in 1931

SPEAKER_01 6:45

If you guys haven't been to this building, it's beautiful. It was built in 1931. It has an indoor gymnasium and then the indoor pool, like Lane said. So we do run um swim lessons all year round. So from six months to see um to adult swim lessons for that. And I think a lot of people don't utilize our lessons and our programs, especially the the cost efficient of the program for that. And we have levels that start from parent me all the way up to level five. So there's a ton of different opportunities, like I said, for all ages to um to really get in the pool. And it's indoor, you're not gonna get sunburnt, it's warm, um, and it's a great uh uh area for people to come and swim.

SPEAKER_00 7:27

And the building's

Swim Lessons in Huntington Beach From 6 Months to Adult

SPEAKER_00 7:28

95 years old. I was trying to do the math. I think that's right, 95 years old. In five years, we have to do some sort of like birthday celebration or something. Yeah, we will for sure. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:35

So if you haven't can't, you need to come check it out. Even the gym, it has the beautiful original wood in there. It's really, really, really pretty.

SPEAKER_00 7:42

Yeah. So I definitely encourage that you guys check that out as well. Um, is there anything that you feel like is not other than the city gym? Is there anything that uh citizens and residents of High Two Beach aren't taking advantage of enough that the city

The HB Neighborhood Parks Nobody Uses Enough

SPEAKER_00 7:57

does provide?

SPEAKER_01 7:57

I think just all the parks. We have a ton of parks in the city. So I always try to go around and visit new parks every weekend. And the amount of different areas and neighborhood parks is really amazing.

Free Pump Track at Edison Community Center

SPEAKER_01 8:10

Another fun free summer activity is we have a pump track at Edison Community Center right now, which um you can use uh skateboards, even the roller skates, um, scooters for that. So the the kids and family are really taking advantage of that. And then it will be traveling to the Murdy community center as well. So I think just fun free things that um the community that we offer for the community is is really special.

SPEAKER_00 8:35

And if you guys don't know what a pump track is, it's really, really cool, really fun. It the concept of it is you're supposed to be able to go around without having to like pump or push. Yeah. And so if you can use, like you like like Casey was mentioning, like you can use a scooter or a skateboard or a little bike or something, and you can just go around in a circle, really fun without having to pedal

Where the Pump Track Travels Next

SPEAKER_00 8:53

or push. And I think that the fact that this little track is going on tour is really cool that it's gonna be able in different parts of the city so everyone can have take advantage of it.

SPEAKER_01 9:01

Yeah, and if you want a good workout too, I always see people on it, they're exhausted from it. So it's a really good leg and core workout. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:07

So if your kids have too much pen step energy and you need just to let them run free, take them to the pump track. And if you have if you're afraid to try it, it it's very easy. Uh not easy, but I mean it's very I don't know, easy to approach.

SPEAKER_01 9:19

Yeah, it's on grass too. So, you know, if you have little ones and they they do fall, at least they have that that soft landing.

Future Plans: A Beach Campout, More Local Vendors & Growth

SPEAKER_01 9:26

So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:27

Uh can we like can like look into the future a little bit? Like, where would you like to see some of these events or maybe future events that are in development in one, three, five years from now? Like what do you would you like to see for the community services and some of the events that we could potentially look forward to?

SPEAKER_01 9:43

Just the growth and the particip uh participation in the events as well. I think one thing is the camp out's been such a success for that. I have always wanted to do a beach camp out. So we have that, but actually families camping on the beach, I think would be neat. And um just twisting things, bringing in a lot more vendors, um, you know, showcasing them, you know, small companies that that have um business in Huntington as well, and just um partnering with other with other companies as well.

SPEAKER_00 10:15

So if there are other businesses and vendors that want to get involved, what's the best way for them to explore

How HB Businesses Can Sponsor City Events

SPEAKER_00 10:21

how to help?

SPEAKER_01 10:22

So we do have a sponsorship packet um that uh you can always reach out to myself or any other community center where we can send out the information if you want to be a sponsor for that. So we have it all laid out, our events, um, and then just details of the the levels of sponsorship they can be for the events.

SPEAKER_00 10:39

And I want to go back to the the parks too. I I I don't remember exactly how many parks you maybe you know, it's like over 100. It was like 107 or something like that. Parks. But what we did, which was kind of cool,

The 107 Parks Challenge & Park Passport Idea

SPEAKER_00 10:49

we can put on is we made a checklist of every single park in Huntington and we can maybe put it on the show notes and we're like, let's play a game. Let's just see like who can visit all 107 parks first because there's a really small ones, big ones, yeah, ones on the beach. There's like stuff that you could really explore and do. And I I don't know, like maybe if I put this on and make a game, the first one to complete the game, uh, I will buy your registration at the campout. Oh, there we go.

SPEAKER_01 11:12

We can do a passport. Yeah, we can like try to do that. That'd be great.

SPEAKER_00 11:15

Yeah, okay. That's looking that we look, we're like thinking things on uh live here on the on this on the show. So I love the passport idea better. Yeah. So let's just we should do a passport for sure.

SPEAKER_01 11:24

We'll work together. We'll do it.

SPEAKER_00 11:26

Okay, I love it. I love it. Um, is there anything else that you can think of that we haven't touched

Sands Magazine: The Full Guide to City Programs

SPEAKER_00 11:31

on that um we should these folks that are listening and watching can look forward to in 2026 or 20 and or beyond?

SPEAKER_01 11:38

Like I said, I think just utilizing that our Recreation Sands magazine that comes out to all residents, or you can pick it up. We have a ton of different programs from early childhood to youth to senior classes at our senior center. They do amazing jobs. There's a variety of all different classes. We have a fitness room there, um, we have the art center. So everything is in that magazine. Um, and each year we really try to do our best of seeing what the community wants and the needs and adding more classes and adding contractors for that. Um, so I think um that's like the main tool that everyone um should definitely utilize. And um, it's a free, a free mail to everyone.

SPEAKER_00 12:19

So and I'm just thinking about this, like in your 23 years of working with the city and you and you think about all these events, the camp outs, the peer swims, uh the breakfast with Santa, the Halloween, like everything, like you your presence is is known there. So you take on a lot with the city and you do a lot for the city, and we thank

A Typical Day in Huntington Beach Parks & Rec

SPEAKER_00 12:40

you as a resident of my series. So we thank you. What does like a typical Tuesday look like for you? Like a typical day of the week. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:46

Um I think my favorite answer is this is why I've got into this field because every day is different. And if a lot of people ask me that, and if they've seen the show Parks and Wreck, that's kind of our life, and it's amazing because you're gonna think you're gonna go in and have, you know, a couple meetings here and there, and then it just, you know, something that expect unexpected happens. And that's why I'm in it, you know, here to solve problems, you know, safety for the public, just bringing all the the tools and you know, different programs I can offer. And I it's it's amazing. So every day is different.

SPEAKER_00 13:20

So who are you with the Parks and Rec? Are you Leslie?

SPEAKER_01 13:23

I think I might be around.

SPEAKER_00 13:24

You don't have that personality.

SPEAKER_01 13:25

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:27

You see you seem very smart on top of it, to be sure.

SPEAKER_01 13:31

Yeah. But um, yeah, like I said, it's it's different every single day. So that makes it fun though. Yeah, it's it's it's a really, really cool field and um and a career for

Wrap-Up & Where To Find Every Link

SPEAKER_01 13:41

me. So that's awesome.

SPEAKER_00 13:42

Yeah. Well, we're gonna wrap up here. Thank you so much for being a part of this. I had to beg Casey to be on the show, by the way. It was like, no, I'm gonna say poly teeth, but I had to I got on my hands and knees and I begged her to be here. So I hope you guys found value from this. For everything that we discussed, all the events, the future events, the sans, like everything. We're gonna have all the information in the show notes. We're gonna have all the digital links. I think the sans is even on a digital link as well. So we can make sure we'll make sure we provide that if you didn't get a copy or you accidentally threw it out or what have you. So you're gonna have access to all of that information. So don't worry. Thank you so much for watching. We I'll leave you with this like I do each and every episode. Do good. High Tunis deserves it. We'll see you on the next one. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_01 14:20

All right, thanks for having me.