Human Development students hop into YMCA partnership

When the YMCA Youth Development Heidi Marquardt (also a UW-Green Bay Human Development alumna) spoke in Prof. Joel Muraco’s (Human Development) Middle Childhood and Adolescence course, she couldn’t have guessed that she would walk away with eight UWGB students who would sign on for volunteer opportunities at the YMCA.

Rachel Cammack (left)
Human Development major
Hannah Lilly (right)
Human Development minor

Out of the eight, three signed on for the “Girl’s Night Out” program and another student started working at a “21st Century Community Learning Center (21C)” at-risk after school site.

“The student-community connection is pivotal for all students today,” said Muraco. “Increasingly, it is not enough to just have a degree. Students also need real world experience in their field. The best way to get this experience is through volunteer and intern opportunities. Connecting our students with the community ultimately benefits all.”

Girl’s Night Out is an eight-week program designed to specifically offer advice for fifth-grade girls as they get closer to attending middle school.

“These kinds of programs are important because the kids are in the transition phase into middle and high-school,” said Skyler Toyne, a UWGB student volunteer for Girl’s Night Out. “As they transition, it helps provide a role model for them to identify with, and that college isn’t as hard or unattainable like it’s often perceived. They need some sort of support system as they go through this transition phase.”

Story by Marketing and Communication intern Angel Kingsley. Photo by University photographer Dan Moore.

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