SALINAS — Central Coast YMCA recently named Carmel Valley resident Julie Campisi as its regional sports coordinator for the Monterey and Salinas YMCAs.
Campisi, who will be coordinating all sports programs at the two locations, has an extensive background in teaching physical education, graduating in 2014 from San Jose State with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and a teaching credential in physical education.
She taught at Vista Verde Middle School, then Oak Elementary School, both in Greenfield, before transferring to R.O. Hardin Elementary School in Hollister for two years.
“I came from a background in P.E., physically doing programs, teaching, now I’m taking a step back, setting up and delivering theses programs, so it’s quite a challenge for me,” Campisi said. “I’m still learning it all.”
Born and raised in San Jose, Campisi said she was well acquainted with the YMCA as a youth.
“As a kid, I used to go all the time to the Santa Clara YMCA,” she said. “Once I was old enough, I would attend different fitness programs with my mom.”
Campisi was also actively involved in different youth sports, such as karate, swimming, soccer and gymnastics, which brought about her love for sports.
“I especially loved archery and horseback riding, which I would do every summer at Girl Scout Camp,” she said.
Campisi currently volunteers for the Girl Scouts of Northern California, based in Pescadero, where she teaches archery to youth ages 8 to 17 at Camp Butano Creek in the Santa Cruz Mountains. She has also been participating with the Girl Scouts for more than 10 years as a young girl and was particularly involved in their horse programs, something she wishes she had the time and opportunity to do more of now.
“It’s one of my biggest passions,” Campisi said.
She lives in Carmel Valley with her partner. Her interests still include archery, as well as rock climbing, which she has done for a few years, and the martial art jujitsu, which she has been practicing for the past few months.
For more information about Central Coast YMCA, call 831-757-4633 or go to centralcoastymca.org.
