By Clyde Noel and Bruce Barton

As a boy, Keith Gutierrez experienced the joys of summer camp and youth sports and wondered what it was like to be the counselors and coaches who ran the programs.

Fresh out of Lincoln High School in San Jose, Gutierrez got his chance to be on “the inside,” filling a summer camp counseling position at Hidden Villa nature preserve in Los Altos Hills. Gutierrez proved a “natural” at getting kids in touch with the wonders of the wilderness.

That was 25 years ago. And Gutierrez, 42, is still at it. For the past 10 years, the man kids call Ranger Keith has kept them in touch with nature as the caretaker at Los Altos’ Redwood Grove Nature Preserve. Under Gutierrez’s direction, programs at Redwood Grove have expanded to cover a wide range of topics, from the Ohlone Indians to archery.

“There’s a whole variety of activities I’ve created here,” he said last week, listing off 11 programs, such as guitar lessons, nature lessons, family camp and Scouting programs.

Enthusiastic 10-year-old boys and girls from Santa Rita School experienced a field trip on May 7 to Redwood Grove, where Gutierrez re-enacted the days of the gold rush and had the students pan for gold. Each took home a bag of “fool’s gold” and biscuits they made during the program.

Jean Benedict, a fourth-grade teacher at Santa Rita, said there is nothing better than having the children experience things the hard way. “Providing the kids with a real-life situation where they do the work is impressive,” Benedict said. “Gutierrez does a great job, and the kids love him.”

Los Altos city officials acknowledge that Redwood Grove and its programs are unique, wonderful and need to be continued. What is still in doubt is whether Gutierrez, who created these programs, will continue with Redwood Grove. Despite apparent support from the Los Altos City Council, Gutierrez’s position remains tenuous, not for job performance, but because of the protocols of government bureaucracy.

Gutierrez has been an independent contractor his entire time with the city. He said he was offered an opportunity to become a full-time employee (city staff said Gutierrez was the one requesting employee status). However, to become an employee, he must reapply for his position, and the city must advertise for other applicants. Staff must create a formal job description.

“I have made this my career and tried to provide safe and fun education programs for the community,” Gutierrez said. “My role is to be helpful and make it an experience for everyone, but now my future is in the balance.”

Los Altos Recreation Director Dave Brees said staff is working on a job description to bring before city council for approval. He did not say when the description would be ready, and acknowledged the process is slow. “We’re a small public agency,” Brees said, noting limited staff time.

“We recognize the value of his programs and encourage the expansion of the programs,” Brees said. “They’re significantly larger than they were 10 years ago. … We support those programs. We have not said stop.”

Brees said the purpose of the job description is to establish the programs in a way that whomever would follow Gutierrez would have a clear understanding of what they are and how to run them.

“We’re evaluating the merits of the position, not the person,” Brees said. “We want to establish a sense of permanence by establishing (program descriptions).”

Council approved the employee position in January, but stipulated that residence in the two-bedroom house on the Redwood Grove property was included in the job description. Gutierrez, who is married and has three young children, has lived at and maintained the city-owned 5.7-acre redwood forest and nature center since 1993. Council also was in favor of Gutierrez continuing to work with animals, which he said was a sticking point with staff because of potential liability issues.

“What I have to do now is make sure the job description narrows the field of candidates,” said Gutierrez, who added he is “keeping his options open,” although he has yet to interview for other positions.

A quarter-century after his first counseling job, Gutierrez clearly still loves his work with children, animals and nature. He recalled his work at Hidden Villa, from 1979 to 1988, where he was a horse riding instructor and a farm tour manager. He also worked as an aide at a preschool. From 1989 to 1996, he worked for the city of Mountain View at Deer Hollow Farm, located within San Antonio Open Space Preserve in south Los Altos.

As one of his many duties at Hidden Villa, Gutierrez recalled delivering milk to Frank Duveneck, who, along with wife Josephine, created the preserve. He said the Duvenecks played a major role in shaping his values.

Gutierrez recalled: “Some lady came to Frank and Josephine - she said, ‘I admire your place here. How many acres do you own?’ Frank replied, ‘We don’t own any property - we’re just here to take care of it.’

“We don’t own a tree, a deer, a hawk,” he said. “With the fast pace, the technology, we’ve lost the root of where it all began. Nature should be important to us and make a difference in our lives and the choices that we make.”

Under his direction, more than 5,000 students participate in Redwood Grove’s programs annually. Most, such as the archery class, are filled quickly, as are the summer camps. Gutierrez said he taught 91 Ohlone classes this school year.

Gutierrez works well with animals for his hands-on programs with schoolchildren. He teaches the children how to hold snakes, and helps them get rid of any animal phobias they may have.

For the Santa Rita tour, he demonstrated how the Indians started fires without matches. He showed students how to use dry grass, cattail and friction to get heat and create a spark. Once they get a spark, they can transfer it to the grass and blow to create a flame.

He cautioned the Santa Rita schoolchildren, “Don’t try this at home. It’s the way the Ohlones started their fires.”

Pam Bernal, a Santa Rita parent accompanying the field trip, said the children would talk about this for days. Under Gutierrez’s instruction, they learned how to make butter, tried panning for gold and did some blacksmithing.

“My job is to make it fun, exciting,” Gutierrez said. “People have commented on my ability to captivate a group of kids.”

Parents all over Los Altos bear this out.

“I have personally seen the wonderful way in which he teaches children and enriches their lives,” said Carol Gerughty. “He is a great asset to our community.”

“I believe he provides a phenomenal service to our community,” said Loyola School parent Tammy White. “His depth of knowledge and care with young people have been an invaluable part of my children’s experience in the elementary school curriculum. … He provides a contribution that has become one of the rich assets of our community here.”

Los Altos Councilman John Moss said he has received more than 100 e-mails from supporters urging the city retain Gutierrez as the director of the Redwood Grove programs.

“I am totally overwhelmed,” Gutierrez said of the large showing of support. “Frank and Josephine would be proud. It gives me great pleasure. It makes me want to do more.”