Instructor Katie Chicotel catches young skater just before he falls.

Learning to skate

The Learn to Skate classes are designed to give eager skaters a solid foundation of skills to use at their disposal. Participants have a variety of options to choose from after developing a strong understanding of the basics. Skaters can choose to engage in competitive ice sports like figure skating and ice hockey or they may decide to simply enjoy what they’ve learned while skating recreationally. Either way, skating is a great opportunity for participants to get fit and have fun.

Karissa Matson, Northen Michigan University senior and  Ice Arena Intern, said, ”The best part of Learn to Skate, is when people realize that ice skating has changed from a dream to a hobby.”

The first class began with a meet-and-greet in the middle of the rink. The intructors were enthusiastic in their introductions which ultimately created a ripple effect in the children’s excitement. After they were properly introduced, the intructors split the group of young skaters into two segments: backward skating, balance and stopping and forward skating, balance and stopping.

The second class was also a beginners skate but was for older children. The class’s routine was identical to the first class’s with the meet-and-greet and class division. What I saw in this class, however, gave me a newfound and richer appreciation for the Learn to Skate classes. The eldest skater was nearing his teen years and it was his first time on the ice. He looked bashful at first because the other skaters were more experienced than him but the instructors immediately responded to the situation. One instructor gripped the boy around the shoulders and enthusiastically introduced him as a new skater to the rest of the class. Then one instructor guided the rest of the class away as the other stayed behind with the young man for some one-on-one coaching.

The instructor, Katie Chicotel, 20, American Culture Studies major, was very patient with the new skater and kept giving him tips and words of

Instructors and students gather in the middle of the rink before class begins.

encouragement as he made his way around the rink. It was, I’m sure, a great experience for the boy, but it was for me as well. Granted I was only observing the class but it made me smile watching him learn to skate for the first time. And most importantly, he was given instant support by the instructors and class which makes for a great first-ever skate.

There is obviously a common love and desire to be on the ice among pupils and instructors. Chicotel’s love for skating began when she was eight years old and she has been on the ice ever since. She has been a Learn to Skate instructor for the past four years. Her passion for the sport itself and her belief that interested young children can keep the sport thriving inspired her to become an instructor. Moreover, she said skating is just plain healthy.

“Skating is beneficial to children mostly because it it fun and they have a blast learning new tricks on the ice. Not only do kids love it but skating is great exercise and a good way for children to build strong, healthy bodies.” said Chicotel.

Anyone interested in enrolling themselves or their children in Learn to Skate classes should call Laura Dunn, Ice Arena Assistant Director, at 419-372-8686 or e-mail her at dunnle@bgsu.edu for more information. Also, check out the department’s website for scheduling, class description, and registration information.

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About the Blogger

Youngsters learn to swim

Sophomore marketing major, Jenna Teitenburg, 19, has been teaching swim lessions since she was 14 years old.

About the Blogger

Hi everyone! My name is Shena Stayden. I am a senior majoring in public relations and I am due to graduate in May. I am the new public relations intern for the department and this is my first blog! Your feedback is warmly welcomed and I look  forward to reading your comments.

Summer vacation is almost here, but kids don’t throw those backpacks in the closet that carried books back and forth to school just yet.  On June 6, Summer Kids Camp begins and the backpacks transform into camper backpacks carrying swimsuits, sunscreen, water bottles and lunchboxes.  The eight-week Summer Kids Camp ends July 29. 

The 2011 Summer Kids Camp continues its outstanding programming established from years of leadership experience and success. Kids Camp for kids, ages 5-12, emphasizes physical development and education while promoting a healthy lifestyle. Some children return to camp every year and make new friends.  They have new learning experiences while having a lot of fun.  These campers can participate in activities that are not available at home or at other camps. “We do lots and lots of fun activities with the children that they cannot get at a daycare,” said Micha Alt, who has directed Kids Camp since 2006.  “We rock climb, ice skate, go swimming every day and include wellness and fitness components.”  Other physical activities in which the campers partake include golf, volleyball, basketball, badminton and track and field.  Kids Camp has great resources at Recreation and Wellness facilities including the Perry Field House, BGSU Ice Arena and Forrest Creason Golf Course to participate in their activities. The campers also go on walking field trips to the Sebo Center or other places of interest on campus.

Asked about her favorite part of Kids Camp, Alt said, “There are so many wonderful aspects of Kids Camp I really can’t pick one.” However, one particular activity Alt does enjoy is the scavenger hunts that are especially popular with the children. “The excitement of the children is enjoyable to watch,” Alt said.  Every week Kids Camp has a witty theme in place: Falcon Frenzy, Into the Wild, Wacky Wonderland, Underwater Adventures, Mad Science, The Places We will Go, Around the World and BG’s Got Talent. 

Children who attend Kids Camp are in good hands.  The camp is administered by Recreation and Wellness professionals and BGSU graduate and undergraduate students with special training in safety, human relations and interpersonal skills with children. The dedicated camp staff is First Aid and CPR certified for the Professional Rescuer with AED and passed the mandatory background screenings. 

Full-time camp costs $119/week and part-time camp is $79/week, with 10 percent discount applied to BGSU employees or families with more than one child’s registration. Register at www.bgsu.edu/recwell and click on Community, Youth & Family on the left menu, by E-mail at kidscamps@bgsu.edu or in person at the Student Recreation Center front desk. For more information, contact Camp Director Micha Alt at 419-372-7482 or 419-372-2000. Sign up the kids today for a fun summer camp at BGSU!

Are you looking for an on-campus internship or practicum for the spring semester? Look no further, Recreation and Wellness is now accepting applications for next semester from a wide variety of majors.

The internships and practicums are open to all majors including recreation and tourism, sport management, marketing and journalism.

“We base the jobs on what the academic credentials are of the student,” Lona Leck, Assistant Director of the Department of Recreation and Wellness, said.

Students can apply to the various departments within Recreation and Wellness including the Ice Arena, Intramurals and Sport Clubs, Youth and Family, advertising, Forrest Creason Golf Course, Perry Field House, Student Recreation Center and Wellness Connection.

Leck believes having interns and practicums within the department helps the staff and broadens the knowledge of the department overall.

“We want to get those new ideas from students,” Leck said. “You know what our programs are lacking more than we do.”

Leck also said the department sometimes gets lucky enough to find an intern or practicum student who they hire full-time.

Not only does interning or having a practicum with Recreation and Wellness benefit the department, but also the students.

“It’s a great experience to put on a resume,” Leck said.

Chris McDaniel, a senior Tourism and Event Planning major, interns with Recreation and Wellness and works on marketing in the Perry Field House. McDaniel said he feels he is gaining a lot of valuable knowledge that is going to help him in his future career.

Carolyn Deas, Senior Sports Management major also enjoys having her practicum at the with the Department of Recreation and Wellness.

“As a practicum student, you learn how to plan an event from the very beginning, from contract to execution,” Deas said. “And it’s rewarding to see it progress over time.”

Leck also said working with the department gives students a “taste of what the work in Recreation is really like.”

Students can  only gain valuable resume-worthy experience and enjoy where they work.

We’re really laid back, but we get our work done,” Deas said. “But that doesn’t stop us from taking a few minutes out of our lunch break to fly a kite, which we’ve done.”

While there are multiple internship and practicum opportunities available within the department, students are encouraged to apply early for positions and not wait until the start of the semester.

Leck also recommends students follow the instructions on the web site.

“We’re most impressed with students who follow instructions,” Leck said.

For those interested in applying for a spring internship, follow the link to learn more about the positions offered and apply now. http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/sa/recwell/page32775.html

Kids Summer Camp 2010 at BGSU is not just another “Day Care” camp. Things are changing in a big way and we want you to be a part of it! This is a look inside at what your campers are really getting out of this experience. BGSU Summer Kids Camp had its start in 2008 and has been a staple program every summer since then. It has always been a good camp alternative to the traditional baby-sitters or day care facilities. But this year it’s going to be different. Micha Seither, Camp Director, talks about turning a camp that was good in its previous years into something great this year!

It takes a lot more than just wanting to make the camp better. Restructuring, planning and bringing in the best people in their fields were some of the steps taken to get this camp up and running. A host of people from various departments have helped in the transformation of this year’s Kids Camp. Changes in the areas of fitness and exercise, health and wellness, snacking choices, preparation and communication and overall marketing of the camp are what this year’s successes are based on.

“We have components in this year’s camp that were not present in the previous years. These are critical areas that we are so glad to be able to implement every other day in camp.” Laurie Westbeld speaks about the newly added fitness and wellness sessions. The session will alternate days and will be done twice a week each. The fitness session will be coordinated and lead by Liz and will last about an hour. Liz will be focusing her efforts on getting the campers to understand fitness and why it is so important to their daily routines. Latisha is a wellness intern at the SRC and she will be conducting the health and wellness sessions. Latisha’s aim is for the campers to practice good health, such as hygiene. Other elements like community safety and bicycle riding will be discussed throughout the eight weeks of camp. It is truly going to be great to have both Liz and Latisha on board for this year’s Kids Camp.

Included in the price (which has been lowered for this year) for camp, each child will receive two snacks a day. It is really simple to order some snacks that are prepackaged and processed and hand them out to the campers. There’s little thought involved and little mess to clean up afterwards. However, with the new focus of camp being a well rounded experience, we wanted to make sure we followed through in this area as well. This year we have revamped the snack menu with fruits, vegetables and healthier alternatives for ice cream. It has been a task to restructure the snack menu because for the most part, budget doesn’t allow for the kids to have fruits and vegetables for every snack, every day. We have done what we can though and are putting the finishing touches on the snack menu next week. Look for the Weekly Newsletter that will get sent home with your campers for the snack list for that week.

The Weekly Newsletters mentioned above are our way of communicating to the parents or guardians about the activities and events that their campers are involved in. Laurie Westbeld spoke about how camp this year is going to be more informative. “We want the parents to know what snacks their kids are eating and what field trip they are going on this week. We want to communicate this information to the parents to show that we have it organized and planned out.” Laurie and countless others have been hard at work to make this camp the best it can be.

So don’t miss all the new and exciting changes to Kid’s Camp! Sign-ups are going on now! For more information about Kid’s Camp visit http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/sa/recwell/community/page57234.html or click on the picture below to download the guide and forms. We look forward to seeing you all there!