KidSpirit -- See more photos
Aubrey Blunck, Michelle Peterson, Cora Kim and Julia Smith (from left to right) try to balance themselves on the beam during Tuesday's KidSpirit gymnastics class.
Tzu-Ying Chen / The Daily Barometer
Deanna Von Tersch, a junior in biology with pre-med option, helps Alyssa Huiskens with her practice on the beam. For more photos, visit dailybarometer.com.
Tzu-Ying Chen / The Daily Barometer
While walking down the campus streets, students may notice a small parade of children led by student employees of KidSpirit, an on-campus organization that began in 1961 as a small summer sports program.
As the decades passed, new programs were offered such as the Girls Summer Youth Program in 1976 and the combining of boys' and girls' camps in 1989, according to the KidSpirit Web site.
Today, under the coordination of head director Karen Swanger, known to campers as Big Mama K, the summer youth programs have grown to provide childcare for more than 400 children a week.
KidSpirit has also become a year-round childcare program, employing 70 people during the summer and approximately 30 to 35 during the school year.
Swanger has been a director for KidSpirit for more than seven years.
Previously, she worked for the organization as a camp instructor - while earning her undergraduate degree in exercise and sports science - and as the director for her graduate assistantship.
"I love it," Swanger said.
She describes working with youth and parents as one of the most rewarding jobs she has ever had.
KidSpirit is not only beneficial to the children at the camps, but develops skills in the youth and helps college students become leaders, Swanger said.
The program involves 20 hours of training to prepare for leadership in the lives of children.
New staff members are coached in the philosophy of the KidSpirit organization and how they should be presenting themselves as an example to youth.
Students also prepare by role playing and simulating potential situations that they may need to know how to handle.
Swanger said the experience of working for KidSpirit really adds to students' "marketability" and prepares them for the future.
Her daughter, Krissy Swanger, also works for KidSpirit as the co-assistant director. Krissy originally began as a swimming instructor.
Since then she has worked in multiple fields in KidSpirit, such as an office assistant and special needs instructor.
She stated that the program is a "great opportunity for Corvallis children."
The childcare is available for kids ages 24 months to school age, and classes such as gymnastics, tennis and swimming are offered for teenagers up to the age of 18.
Chelsea Sailor, senior in exercise and sport science, has been working at KidSpirit for approximately a year and a half as an office assistant.
Sailor said the job requires responsibility.
"It develops leadership and interpersonal skills," she said. "You have to be very self-directed and very flexible,"
Chantel Greene, senior in fine arts, works as a head summer instructor and as an office assistant during the school year. Using her skills in the arts, she coordinates projects and crafts for the children to do during the day.
Although it is not exactly fine arts and oil painting, Greene said with a laugh, she helps the children do artwork with wooden craft sticks.
In the future she wishes to be an art teacher and she is focusing on developing her skills of class management through her work as an instructor.
Though KidSpirit has already hired their summer staff, they need students looking for internships in graphic design or marketing to work in the business department of the organization.
Students who wish to apply for a summer internship may contact Karen Swanger at the KidSpirit office at 737-4473.
KidSpirit -- See more photos