Gold Bar teen earns Sultan Boys & Girls Club's camper of the year award

Sultan Mayor Carolyn Eslick and Sultan Fire Chief Merlin Halverson honored 12-year-old Gold Bar resident Ronaldo Rico Mora last week, naming him the Sultan Boys & Girls Club Summer 2015 Teen Camper of the Year.

Orchestrated by Sultan Boys & Girls Club Teen Director Ruth Shapovalov, the ceremony took place at the club on Thursday, Aug. 27. Shapovalov said she wanted to recognize Mora for exemplary behavior demonstrated during this year's teen summer camp, a brand new series meant to provide kids with a safe place to spend time during the summer. Shapovalov penned an email on Saturday, Aug. 22, asking the mayor if she would be available to help celebrate Mora's achievements.

"Every single day of summer camp, this young man has been my cheerful helper in any situation that comes up,GÇ¥ wrote Shapovalov. "He's my navigator on field trips, my cleanup crew of one, my cheerful companion on every adventure, and so full of joy and excitement that he literally has kept me going when I'm beyond exhausted.GÇ¥

Shapovalov told club members that something exciting would be happening at the club on Thursday, but kept the details of the award a secret. She planned the ceremony for a day when she knew the Sultan club would be hosting children from the Monroe Boys & Girls Club, in order to present Mora with the award in front of a larger audience.

Throughout the course of the summer camp, Shapovalov has taken the teens on numerous field trips to promote learning in ways that are fun and engaging. Kids have visited places like the Reptile Zoo in Monroe, the Alderwood Mall, the Woodland Park Zoo, Guitar Center in Kirkland, Skipley Farm in Snohomish, the Evergreen State Fair and the Bellevue Art Museum.

They've pulled weeds at the community garden in Monroe, picked up trash at Osprey Park, played games and participated in projects facilitated by the Sultan Library.

Shapovalov served as a Sultan Boys & Girls Club volunteer for two years before being hired by the nonprofit earlier this year. In her time at the club, she's worked to engage teens through a broad platform of patience, community service and creativity. She's facilitated weekly presentations by local veterans, farmers, auto mechanics and many others, inviting them to share a piece of their lives with the children.

Shapovalov's teen programming has become further enhanced by the club's new facility. After four years of sharing space with the Volunteers of America Sultan Senior Center, the Sultan Boys & Girls Club was finally able to transition into its own space in May. The long-awaited 6,000-square-foot building, constructed to replace the one that burned to the ground on December 24, 2011, broke ground last November.

Since moving into the new building, Shapovalov's teens finally have a space to call their own. The teen room features a lounging area with a couch and flatscreen television, a pool table, technology center, hobby tables and kitchen.

Shapovalov gathered everyone in the club on Thursday to explain what the ceremony was all about.

"We have some awards that are given sometimes, and sometimes we make up an award,GÇ¥ Shapovalov said. "This year I made up an award because I thought a person really deserved this award.GÇ¥

The mayor presented Mora with the award, along with two commemorative city of Sultan pins. Eslick told Mora he was being honored for outstanding behavior during the club's first-ever teen summer camp, including helping without being asked, having a positive attitude, being grateful, cheerful and full of enthusiasm for camp activities.

Mora said he enjoys being helpful. His favorite part of summer camp was all the field trips, especially exploring the local parks, beaches and zoos. He also enjoyed activities held at the club, such as art projects, cleaning and cooking. Shapovalov often plans cooking projects for the teens, who have mastered dishes like French toast, pancakes and peach cobbler.

Mora was not anticipating winning the award, which included a certificate proclaiming him as the Summer 2015 Teen Camper of the Year and a $20 gift card to Yoforit Frozen Yogurt.

"I was surprised,GÇ¥ Mora said. "I was really surprised.GÇ¥