Think back to summer camp as a child.

You were probably dropped off early in the morning, played outside all day and picked up by your parents after they left work.

Gulf Shores’ SPARC (strengthening potential through arts, recreation and culture) camps are nothing like your typical summer camp.

Time is structured and events are planned—but don’t let that run you off. Children are learning how to make batteries operate from a lemon, playing in drum circles learning about keeping rhythm and time, making Plaster of Paris leaf prints to learn about nature and practicing a skit for theatre.

“This is just the beginning,” says Ralph Pereda, the programs and events supervisor of the Gulf Shores Cultural Center.

Ralph Pereda moved his family from New York City to Gulf Shores in April.

“I was working for the department of parks and recreation of New York City,” Pereda says. “I was over 35 recreation centers. I created programs while working for the city.”

Pereda and his wife, Maria, were looking to move to a warmer climate. Their oldest daughter started to develop an allergic reaction to the cold as well.

“We have found America’s best hidden treasure,” Pereda says. “We didn’t know Alabama had a Gulf Coast. I say the city was hiring a supervisor and knew I had more than enough qualifications.”

Pereda’s goal was to develop quality programming for the summer camps. Pereda supervises the SPARC program at the cultural center.

“The city wanted to have a curriculum for summer camps,” Pereda says. “We are building bridges out of popsicle sticks, tape, cardboard and Styrofoam. We give the kids materials and at the end of the program, we test their bridge with a box of pennies. We see if the bridge is stable — ‘was it well-constructed,’ ‘Let’s look at it as see if we can do something else to make it stronger.’”

There is a program for students of all interests — Sports, works, earth, talent and more. Ralph takes Home Depot 5-gallon-buckets and makes a drum circle for students.

“I teach them about rhythm, keeping time,” he says. “You don’t have to be a professional. Music is what you feel inside.”

Pereda feels like he comes with a lot of experience and ideas from New York City — ideas that worked and didn’t work. He’s bringing those lessons to the Gulf Coast.

As the end of the summer draws to a close, he seems to have achieved his goal. But he isn’t stopping there.

In the fall, Pereda hopes to start a teen program after school.

“It may be a coffeehouse environment one night, we might jam another night and play three-on-three basketball another night,” Pereda says. “It’s in the works, but we have an idea. We’re going to try to bring in line-dancing, self defense, lots of different activities.

Instead of thinking what they might like, we’re asking the kids what they want to do and what they want to see. If the kids don’t like it, they aren’t going to come.”

Pereda has other ideas non-related to camps, one of which is starting community gardens in the city.

“My idea is to get a group of people together to plant and schedule who’s replanting, weeding, watering, etc.,” he says. “It gives citizens a sense of ownership. If we all work together as a team, it fosters community building.”

“I’m here to brainstorm, community build,” Pereda says. “I want to keep this a beautiful place. I want people to say, ‘Wow, I’m really grateful to live here.’”

PEOPLE PROFILE:

NAME: Ralph Pereda

OCCUPATION: Programs and events supervisor

FAMILY: Wife, Maria; Four children, Piabelen, 11; Mathias, 6; Destiny, 4; Bella, 2.