The vision of Camp Captivate is to provide exceptional Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (S.T.E.A.M.) educational experiences. S.T.E.A.M. is the thoughtful integration of 2 or more pillars of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics, providing a meaningful “weaving together “of various core disciplines.
Through hands-on, project-based learning, our team of outstanding camp teachers and assistants are passionate about igniting the fire of curiosity and creativity in children. By fostering a positive and nurturing learning environment, they provide stimulating and diverse activities to keep kids “captivated.”
Ildikó Stennis
FounderI am so proud of the Camp Captivate program, and I am tickled that Activity Hero parents voted us the #1 STEM CAMP in the Bay Area for 2025. We are also #1 on YELP for Summer camps in Santa Clara. I feel so much gratitude to our devoted campers and their parents. Here’s a little history of our program. I created Camp Captivate for my own 3 kids as a backyard playgroup in 2009. Camp Captivate’s purpose is to inspire young kids to fall in love with science. I have 20 years of experience in education and work as a science teacher for SCUSD, where I teach 7th and 8th grade Science. My credentials are in Physical Science and Math, and i have a BS in Geology. My passion is S.T.E.A.M. education and outdoor education, and I absolutely love being on site interacting with the campers each and everyday. I care deeply about creating a QUALITY of the program. My hope is to inspire kids to pursue future STEM careers.
Rachel Hilario Pigg
DirectorI am so excited to be the director at Camp Captivate this summer. I have been in education for 25 years and i currently teach 6th and 7th grade science at SCUSD. I have a BS in Biology and pursuing an Administrative Credential/Master’s Degree. My two kids attended Camp Captivate when they were younger and i am thrilled to continue being a part of this quality program. The positive environment, exceptional staff, and incredible ratios are just a few reasons this camp is truly phenomenal.
Lisa Ross
Explorers Teacher - ArtThis is my 3rd year at Camp Captivate, and I have been a kindergarten teacher with SCUSD for 40 wonderful years. I absolutely love teaching! In my free time I enjoy exercising, especially going to zumba classes. I have a Master’s degree in education from Santa Clara University and a multiple subject teaching credential. I have devoted my life to working with children, and my favorite subject to teach is Art. I believe in the power of Art Education because I love the beautiful projects the kids create and how proud they are of themselves. I can’t wait to see you this summer!
Renee Shahnazarian
Explorers Teacher - ScienceThis is my second year at Camp Captivate, and I work full time as a teacher for San Jose Unified School District during the school year. I have a Master’s degree in education and a multiple subject teaching credential. Running is my passion in my free time. I love working at Camp Captivate because I love doing hands-on science labs with young kids.
Andres Wemiz
Art TeacherI work full time as a teacher for San Jose Unified School District during the school year. This is my 6th year as the fine arts teacher for Camp Captivate. I have a Bachelors of art in studio art with a single subject teaching credential in art. I am passionate about inspiring an appreciation for beauty and art. In my free time, I like to create my own art in a variety of mediums.
Alejandro Shydlowski
PE TeacherThis is my 3rd year at Camp Captivate, as the physical education teacher for all the groups. I love playing outdoor games with kids. It is important to get them to move around each day and have a lot of fun. During the school year, I teach drama at Presentation High School in San Jose. I am a professional actor, and I love being silly with kids at camp!
Sandra Esparza
Extended Care DirectorI am excited to return to Camp Captivate as the extended care director. I am in charge of keeping your kids engaged and active from 3:00 to 5:30 pm. during the school year, I work in extended care at ST. Joseph’s School in Mountain View. I love working with children. I look forward to playing board games, hanging out at the playground or having snacks with your child this summer.
Daria Filiuta
Leaders - ExplorersMy name is Daria and I have a Bachelor’s degree in teaching. I’ve worked as an ESL teacher in Vietnam and China, and currently volunteering in a kindergarten classroom. I’m passionate about working with children and love creating fun, engaging learning experiences. This will be my first summer working at Camp Captivate, and I’m very excited to meet new students and be a part of a creative and supportive team. outside of work, I enjoy crocheting, hiking, and making motivational study content for social media. I’m looking forward to an amazing summer full of learning and fun!
Isabel Carvalho
Leader - ExplorersHi, I’m Isabel. I am a junior at Archbishop Mitty. I enjoy playing tennis, reading, and painting. Last year, I worked as a LIT at Camp Captivate and loved working with the kids on art projects!
Stay tuned for updates as we hire more staff!
All staff members are fingerprinted and undergo a comprehensive background check. Our director and teachers are CPR/First aid certified.