Fall 2011 Newsletter Extended: Fundamentals
Live It, Protect It, Explore It!
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RPTA PARTNERSHIP YIELDS AWARD-WINNING COMMUNITY PROGRAM
By Eric Duarte (RPTA '13), Staff Writer
RPTA students are constantly working cooperatively with businesses, companies, and organizations in the community. The exceptional work done by our students and the mentoring gained from professionals already working in the field creates a mutually beneficial partnership and an experience to grow and learn from each other. This past spring quarter, the students enrolled in Dr. Brian Greenwood's Recreational Sports Programming course (RPTA 260) received a chance to engage in one of those unique partnerships through the FUNdamentals Sports Clinic for children ages five to twelve.
Roughly 20 RPTA students had an opportunity to partner with San Luis Obispo (SLO) Parks & Recreation and the San Luis Coastal Unified School District to aid in the development and very first implementation of this inclusive sports skills clinic program for children with developmental delays/disabilities. RPTA students served as facilitators of the clinic and developed program plans for future clinics. Students also received training in Applied Behavioral Analysis from an area expert and inclusive training working with children with disabilities from RPTA adjunct faculty member Rene Van Hoorn.
The clinic was held at CL Smith Elementary school twice a week and was focused on providing a welcoming and positive environment as well as seamlessly integrating life lessons through the sport of soccer. Third year RPTA student Alison Sunahara ('13) said, "FUNdamentals was not something that many students get a chance to experience. It pushed us out of our comfort zone to become better coaches, mentors, and people."
Cortland Forsyth (RPTA '13) thought one of the most rewarding parts of the clinic was being able to see the kids' skills grow so much from the first day to the end and being able to give them something while growing himself as a person and a facilitator. Students led soccer drills and team building activities while also learning about behavioral reinforcements, ADA accessibility, and wellness. Students also received a chance to work with recreation professionals from SLO Parks and Recreation, providing for a vibrant mentoring environment and one where openness was fostered in seeking input from the students on how to improve the program.
On September 14, 2011, Governor Jerry Brown helped announce the winners of the 2011 Spotlight Awards and presented the FUNdamentals Sports Clinic the Bronze Medal in the Park Program of the Year category. A generous $1,000 check was awarded to SLO Parks and Recreation to further promote physical activity in the community. This award was testament to another successful community partnership. All Spotlight Award winners and medalists can be viewed at: http://www.calgovcouncil.org/spotlight/.
Dr. Greenwood and SLO Parks & Recreation have continued the partnership. RPTA 101 students volunteered this past fall to support the FUNdamentals basketball clinic. Plans are in the works for the spring RPTA 260 class to continue the partnership.
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