About Us

Theresa Garcia Founder of Safari Party

At California State University, Long Beach, I graduated with a B.A., in Recreation and Leisure Studies with a certificate in Wilderness Studies.

Extensive travel to include:  Bali, Columbia, Peru, Japan, Hawaii, and Costa Rica.

I am a substitute teacher, (K-6), for  the Los Angeles Unified School District. 

Owner/Operator of Safari Party

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

One of my accomplishments was a wilderness camp, at Wildness Park, that John Thun and I started in Redondo Beach, California.  This camp became very successful, in serving the community with summer camps for the children.  Also, I am proud of the year round family educational and science programs, in an environment where the parents and children can learn together.

I also, had a nature center, in Manhattan Beach, where I taught various kinds of nature classes to include:  Native American studies, paleontology (dinosaur and fossils), entomology (study of insects), herpetology (reptiles and amphibians), building rockets, and many other science educational projects.  After over a decade of experience of designing and teaching programs, I have refined many of my teaching techniques, philosophies and beliefs, to teaching, educational playing, while also building strong groups that create and enhance team skills.

My style of teaching that has proven successful:

I change the fantasy which changes the game. Children naturally have an  imaginative power.  I utilize this special ability by having them act and play like the animals.  This enables younger children to stay focused longer.  This is especially beneficial to hyper-active children and children that learn by doing (kinesthetic learners).  Well thought out,  initiated games and playing, makes a more cooperative group.  A group that plays together safely, both psychologically and physically, requires less discipline; they will discipline each other, and at the same time take care of each other.  When this happens they have more fun! 

Everybody wins.  The goal of playing is to have fun, learn, improve social and physical skills.  Positive team skills, versus winners and losers, creates a positive attitude towards learning, in addition developes their individual and personal skills.  Building personal self-esteem also builds and supplies a structure to improve their learning skills.  Competition is not in my programs.  There is only time for fun and learning.

I focus on the misunderstood animals.  They are easily overlooked, yet, extremely fascinating.  If we are not exposed to these animals, a fear can develop.  This fear will grow over time could turn into a phobia.  Children can overcome fears quite easily because they are curious.  Adults often lose their curiosity and  do not try to overcome this fear.  I don't  push the issue, unless the person is interested.  I have a theory, any fear can be overcome with knowledge.

Large exotic animals are not the only interesting critters.  Children get just as excited learning about the snails, worms, ants, and common insects they see in their yard. I believe people that have knowledge and experience with nature, helps them to understand and live with nature, harmoniously, instead of fearing it.

When a child is inspired they will excel, in other areas of thieir life.  children enjoy learning and they are curious about animals.  The child that knows the information and receives positive reinforcement. This inspires them to want to know more.

The importance of positive and proper pet ownership.  Many herps and arthropods make good pets that can teach responsibility to a child.  Children should know how to care for pets they own, preferably before they are bought.  When buying a pet, seek out pet stores that have people knowledgeable about the care of the animal and assist you to see if it is a suitable pet for your child and your family lifestyle.

We should  purchase only captive bred animals.  This will inspire more hepteculturalists to breed more animals in captivity help preserve species, does'nt deplete from the natural environment, and you get an healthier animal.

I have a word and picture file, to better reach the visual learners.

This part is about everyone that has been supportive in my pursuit of a career that I love.

I am where I am today, because of my family.  We are a very close family of 4 girls,  1 boy, and a cousin that lived with us.  We went on many road trips together and most of them was camping and hiking.  My parents love nature, I am sure this is where my love for nature and animals began.   My parents never felt the full impact of my interests until I was in college, and I was living in their home, with all the critters in my room, I was completely surrounded by Herpes and Arthropods.  The stories my parents could tell. 

The animal that got me started, you guessed it, an Iguana, I coulld write a whole page about Rex. (see Rex's Bio).  Rex owned my room, which was very large.  John Thun and I built an 8' by 4' open vivarium with a waterfall, pond, tree branch reaching to the ceiling and a shelf under the ceiling where Rex slept.

I also wanted to mention that I am an Aunt to 5 boys.  I have named two of my Australian Water Dragons after my nephews Kyle and Nicholas, ( we may have to adjust the names when we find out the sex of the little dragons).

Troy is the model in my flyer and brochures.  He is also the little one in the vest in my video.

Casey and Nolan are in pictures throughout this web page and are found throughout my video. 

Not only am I close to my immediate family but I am also close to a large extended family:  Most of the pictures I used in my web page are of my family.  This is a picture of cousins and friends on a trip down the Grand Canyon.   There were 30 of us on that trip.