Swinging into Action: Democratic Citizenship and the Kaleidoscope Playground Project Rona J. Karasik, Ph.D Professor, Gerontology Program, St. Cloud State University Phyllis A. Greenberg, Ph.D Associate Professor, Gerontology, Program, St. Cloud State University

ClassroomCommunity Service-Learning

Goals of the Project Teach SCSU students the skills of civic engagement and civic participation through experiential learning by working with community partners Develop a regional playground for all abilities

How Kaleidoscope got started “The Perfect Storm” Campus Compact Grant “Why aren’t we doing ANYTHING?” Jonathan’s Dream The City of St. Cloud The East Side Boosters

The Idea An accessible playground for all abilities

The Journey Begins… (Fall, 2001) The Travelers… Students : “Community & Democratic Citizenship (CS 201/CMTY 195) Community Partners: East Side Boosters City of St. Cloud (Parks & Recreation) Other Constituents Faculty: Rona Karasik Pamela Mittlefehldt Phyllis Greenberg

The Students “You want us to WHAT??!!?” Goals and Objectives for Service-Learning in CMTY 195 Goal 1: Provide students with face to face contact with communities and their participants. Learning Objectives: To familiarize students with a realistic (rather than media enhanced) experience of community life. To personalize the population/issues/concerns being studied. To understand the vast diversity among communities and their members. Goal 2: Introduce students to the needs and concerns of communities. Learning Objectives: To familiarize students to the day to day living experience of community members. To familiarize students with the social challenges communities may face. Goal 3: Provide students with interaction with community agencies and/or governing bodies. Learning Objectives: To familiarize students with the specific services provided by community agencies and the issues they address. To familiarize students with the structure of a local service agency. To familiarize students with the personnel of a local service agency. To familiarize students with the governing bodies and procedures of community governance. Goal 4: Provide students with the opportunity to develop civic responsibility/ citizen participation skills. Learning Objectives: To increase students’ sense of personal efficacy (“I can make a difference”). To increase students’ commitment to lifelong community/public service.

Community Partners East Side Boosters Goal: Enhance the East Side of St. Cloud City of St. Cloud (Parks & Recreation) Goal: Enhance playground in St. Cloud at no cost to them

A few early challenges… Getting students “on board” and under way Finding a suitable location East Side vs. other sites Environmental impact Access Concerns from disability groups Is this the right thing to do? Segregation vs. integration? Going beyond the ADA

Learning Opportunities: Part I Negotiating between groups with widely varying interests Working as a team Navigating bureaucracy Allowing students to navigate in rough waters Finding/Agreeing on location Maintaining motivation and momentum in light of challenges

Some Early Achievements Learning how to evaluate a site Finding a location Surveying the neighborhood Surveying school children Bringing in new partners Learning about the ADA Creating an accessible playground design

“The Place” Before: Wilson Regional Park, St. Cloud, MN

The Students

Open Seas… Learning Opportunities Part II Finding a location (land surveying, flood zones, environmental concerns, neighborhood concerns -- survey) Designing an accessible playground (and learning about ADA and bureaucracy in the meantime) Negotiating with partners and divergent interests/needs New partners: designers, vendors, kids, fiscal agents Budget! Fundraising!!! Grant writing Student leadership, initiative, and follow through

Some Additional Challenges Getting started (over and over and over…each semester) Bureaucratic hoops – campus and city Students organizing & follow through Letting students experience ”failure” Who’s Playground is it? Time commitment of service-learning Meeting fund raising goals vs. student experience/learning You can’t do that here!

Additional Achievements Fundraising New partnerships New students (over 1000 in all) Grant writing Public speaking experience

The Donor Board

Sway Glide Fun – the 1 st piece of equipment!

And then there was the fundraising… Family Fun Festivals Silent Auctions Spaghetti Suppers Pizza Sales Grant Writing Car shows

The Finish Line (Are We There Yet?) Playground Student involvement Changing perceptions of students – you can make a difference Changing perceptions/stereotypes about students Community Involvement: campus and larger community Sustainability

Ribbon Cutting #1

Playground Art!

Playground, surfacing, it’s all there! Fall, 2010

Hindsight! What might we do differently? Smaller project (allows more student continuity and closure) Everything else was all learning (some harder lessons than others!)

Thanks to our students, community partners, and our sponsors! CS 201 & CMTY 195 Students East Side Boosters City of St. Cloud Parks & Recreation Central MN Community Foundation Otto Bremer Foundation United Way Youth as Resources Fund Aramark Food Services St. Paul Pipefitters Union Sam’s Club Shopko ING North America INS Corp American Legion SAL Post 76 St. Cloud Morning Optimists Club Coburn’s Incorporated TCF Bank C.O.M.P.A.S. And all the private donors and supporters of our many fundraisers!