KidSpirit gives young athletes a chance to learn new skills

By JESSE SOWA
Gazette-Times reporter

Young people fill the Oregon State University campus every day, eagerly willing to learn something new.

But these aren't your average college students.

Kids ages 2 to 18 come to the campus year-round to swim, tumble and play tennis, among other activities.

KidSpirit, on the OSU campus, offers hundreds of young people every year a chance to improve their skills in a variety of sports. Gymnastics, tennis and rock climbing are the most popular activities in the program. KidSpirit hosts occasional birthday parties and nights for parents.

OSU students also get the opportunity to coach and learn business and administrative skills.

"Our goal isn't to have competition with the Boys and Girls Club or Parks and Rec. It's to offer things in different way," said Karen Swanger, director of the program since it took its current name four years ago. "We really want them to leave with a sense of accomplishment, to have fun and to meet friends."

The difference is KidSpirit keeps its activities on learning and fun, with a definite emphasis on having fun. About 90 percent of athletes return every year.

Swanger, who is employing 42 students this fall, says she experiences success "when kids continue to learn and to watch them learn new skills and become confident. And our students, they learn and grow."

The program extends off campus as well. Last spring, Kid Spirit employees taught a Red Cross CPR class at a local elementary school and 28 of 29 students passed.

"Kids love it. They are more attentive in class than adults are," Swanger said.

Swanger said about half the students she employs had some experience with kids' athletics during their high school years, while many others have interests in education and simply working with youth.

Soni Meduna is doing her academic practicum in the program's office in Langton Hall, helping her prepare for a real-life job.

Meduna, a former OSU gymnast who will finish up her degree this winter in exercise sports science with an option in administration, coached gymnastics to 4- and 5-year-olds through KidSpirit during her sophomore year and said she enjoyed the experience.

"I learned a lot from doing that," she said. "Being a role model and pointing them in the correct direction."

Starting out, students sometimes mirror their coaching based on their experiences with coaches in high school. But that isn't necessarily the direction KidSpirit wants them to go. Training takes care of that.

"I think part of the service is getting students ready to have jobs (after college)," Swanger said. The program teaches them expectations, professionalism and how to work with young people and give them feedback. "The parents and participants understand this is a training ground."

For the students and kids alike, it starts with having fun.

"I think that's what brings people back. That's our focus, the fun aspect," Swanger said. "A lot of it is the kids connecting with the teachers."

Jesse Sowa covers sports for the Gazette-Times. He can be reached at jesse.sowa@lee.net or 758-9521.