Tim Reed and his wife Lin moved to Copperopolis over 20 years ago in an effort make Lin's commute to her job in Sonora and her job in Modesto an easier route. When Tim saw the road Reeds Turnpike he thought to himself, 'at least they have good street names here.' Finally settled in Copper the couple never dreamed that this would become so much more than just a place to live.
Raised in Sudbury Massachusetts to a family of volunteers and avid sailors, Tim learned at a young age what community service was all about. When he was old enough he volunteered at the local parks and rec department as a camp counselor. Even when he went away to college, he would come home for summers and continue volunteering as a counselor. In college he obtained his teaching credentials and the mold for his future was set.
Tim has worked as a teacher for 36 years, beginning his career as a K-6th grade PE instructor in a school on the island of St Thomas in the Virgin Islands. While in St Thomas Tim was introduced to the Special Olympics "this is where I really got involved in volunteering." Working with special needs kids was something Tim just "fell into and then fell in love with." Soon after being introduced to the Special Olympics he was asked to direct the St Thomas special Olympics. "After all the fund raising, the organizing, the planning of the events...when the kids walked off the field with their medals I cried. I realized this is what I was meant to do." It was then that Tim decided to continue his education and get a masters degree in Special Education.
By 1999 he was the swim coach for the California swim team at the Special Olympics World Games in North Carolina. Again he was honored with the request to coach at the 2003 Special Olympic Games in Dublin Ireland for bowling. "I'm glad I didn't have to compete with these kids, they were good!" Tim explained that coaching was more of a managing position, managing their life skills and their daily lives while they competed.
Not one to rest for long Tim noticed a lack of youth activities in Copper when his daughter Kaytlin was young and began a small "kids camp" in his own back yard complete with activity stations with archery, la crosse, volleyball, art and more. "I would have all my daughters friends visit each station and complete whatever project I had set up...after three hours they would go home happy and I would siesta." Since this was such a hit with the kids and Tim had recently become involved in Parks and Rec he pitched the idea of a kids camp to that group and it was well accepted.
So back in 2006/2007 Parks and Recs held their first kids camp run by Tim and other volunteers. The first camp had 50 children in attendance. The camp in 2012 had over 130 and many of the counselors were kids that had grown up and had themselves attended kids camp when they were younger.
About three years ago Tim returned to school to obtain his adapted physical education credential. With this in hand, he is saying good-bye to his 28 year job with the San Jouquin school district on the Escalon HS campus as a classroom teacher and will begin his new career as an itinerant teacher working at all school sites throughout the San Jouquin county. This said his summers will be taken with education and there has yet been someone to pick up the Kids Camp Coordinator baton and run with it. If you are interested please contact Parks and Rec at 785-PARK.
Tim is also a behind the scenes volunteer at the community garden. Part of his teaching curriculum for his students involves emphasizing vocational skills, work skills, and community service. With access to a greenhouse and a nice planting bed on the school grounds Tim has taught his students about planting and cultivating vegetables. Each year the students enthusiasm exceeds their needs - as the students get to bring home the fruits of their labor to their families- so there are many seedlings that need a home, this is where the community garden comes in. Each year Tim brings the extra seedlings from his classroom to the Copperopolis Community Garden for planting for our community. This year he has 1000 tomato plants to be donated.
Tim has also volunteered to be 'head of security' for sober grad night keeping the kids safe and making sure they don't "come and go." Recently he coached his nephews 6 to 8 year old roller hockey team in Stockton which had him remembering his ice hockey days as a youth. He is also working with the local Clamper group to get them involved in the April 20, 2013 trash clean up day in Copper.
With retirement looming on the horizon Tim has been scratching his head about what he can do after this happens...he has many ideas for our community...but we will just have to wait and see where his midas touch will land...you can be sure our children and our community will benefit.
By,
Charity Maness
