Feb 02, 2022
Matthew Cline
Matthew joined the Ranch Camp Team full time in May 2021, after spending a year at the Main JCC Denver location. He absolutely loved working at The JCC in Denver but when the opportunity to relocate his family to the beautiful Ranch Camp in Elbert CO presented itself to him, he couldn’t pass it by.
He spends his time making art, running around with his dogs, or spending time with his family who live in Thornton, Colorado. He considers himself very lucky to call Ranch Camp home.
I was born in Denver and I have spent most of my life in Colorado. In high school I was really fortunate to find a job at the Commerce City Greyhound racing track, because that is where I first discovered how much I love working outside, learning how to fix things and how happy I was interact with animals. The dog track was my introduction to the Odd jobs/Handyman industry that I would make my life long chosen career. From the dog track I would go on to find work at a assortment of very interesting facilities. Amusement park/Zoo MN, Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue CA, Camping resort in the Redwoods CA, Farming/CSA delivery service San Francisco/ Northern CA, Homesteading Event Venue with goats and horses CO, Apartment maintenance for a Non-profit company that specialized in supporting housing for lower income families/military veteran/Disabled individuals CO, Renovating apartment buildings built from1880’s-1930’s CO. In the Spring of 2020 I realized that I was unsatisfied with my current situation and I wanted to find a new job, one in which I would feel a better sense that I was using my skills to help a community. When I applied for the position at JCC Denver it opened up a whole new world for me. I had driven by the JCC property in the past but I never knew there was such amazingly dynamic institution hiding in plan sight. I started working at the JCC Denver at the beginning of March, roughly one week before everything was locked down due to the pandemic. Being classified as a essential worker during the pandemic, I was able to come to the JCC building everyday and work but for the most part I felt like I was working at a ghost town. What an incredible experience when restrictions loosened and I got to see how much the JCC meant to everyone. It wasn’t just a place to play tennis or go for a workout, it was a building that fostered culture and community. I was blown away by the enthusiasm demonstrated by our Lane Lap swimmers showing up at 6:00 a.m. in freezing weather, the patience all of the ELS parents had when dealing with temperature screening and everyone’s excitement to help breath life back into the Denver J.
My first summer at Ranch Camp was filled with ghost stories, pool parties, and seeing tie dye stained hands holding plates in the serving line at the Chad. I hope it’s the first of many summers I get to spend as part of the Team at the JCC RANCH Camp!