kckidscalendar.org Is Source For Kids' Fun
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
But where can kids and their parents go to find events for Kosciusko County youth?
Beginning Sept. 1, the answer is kckidscalendar.org[[In-content Ad]]The Web site is a Web calendar focused on providing activity information for and to the youth of this county. The project was initiated by a group of Kosciusko Leadership Academy members in 2006. The group's White Paper Project won the Jean Northenor Project Proud Award $5,000 grant to implement their project. Group members included Vickie Lootens, Cardinal Center Inc.; Mark Bonifield, Zimmer; Gary Schott, IPFW-Warsaw; and Theressa Sterk, Bertsch Services.
In a recent interview, Lootens said her group worked with a statistics class from Grace College to conduct a survey on after-school activities. Through the statistics, they found parents and children would be interested in a one-stop Web site listing activities in the county.
After analyzing the statistics, Lootens said they met with community organizations and presented their findings. Warsaw Community Public Library was one of the most interested organizations in the Web site. WCPL continued to work with the group on the project and adopted the project as their own.
WCPL employees involved in the Web site include Zach Doppelt, Eric Kimes, Harper Apted, Ann Zydek and Joani Brookins. An advisory board for the Web site is being created.
Six organizations already have locked in their participation on the Web site, including North Webster Community Center, Warsaw Parks & Recreation, Baker Youth Clubs, Sus Amigos, WCPL and Warsaw Community Schools. Each organization will be responsible to maintain their own calendar.
"Of course," Lootens said, "we hope more organizations will come into the mix."
The goals of the project are to increase awareness of what local youth activities are being offered; provide a single online location where parents and students can obtain information on youth activities easily; provide participating organizations with secure access to their section of the Web site to keep their portion of the calendar updated; provide easy-to-use Web-based tools for participating organizations and site users; and provide a no-charge, value-added service to users at a low cost to participating organizations.
Local students also are involved with the Web site. Last year, Lootens said they partnered with Linda Hoy's marketing class at Warsaw Community High School. The students came up with the logos, colors, etc. to use on the Web site. They also had a contest for the Web site name.
"We didn't use everything they suggested, but we definitely used as much as we could," said Lootens.
Students also will help get the word out about the Web site.
One of the Web site's tag lines is "Be active. Get connected. Stay informed."
That's what the creators behind the Web site hope students will do through the Web site. Be an actively participating member of the Kosciusko County community.
But where can kids and their parents go to find events for Kosciusko County youth?
Beginning Sept. 1, the answer is kckidscalendar.org[[In-content Ad]]The Web site is a Web calendar focused on providing activity information for and to the youth of this county. The project was initiated by a group of Kosciusko Leadership Academy members in 2006. The group's White Paper Project won the Jean Northenor Project Proud Award $5,000 grant to implement their project. Group members included Vickie Lootens, Cardinal Center Inc.; Mark Bonifield, Zimmer; Gary Schott, IPFW-Warsaw; and Theressa Sterk, Bertsch Services.
In a recent interview, Lootens said her group worked with a statistics class from Grace College to conduct a survey on after-school activities. Through the statistics, they found parents and children would be interested in a one-stop Web site listing activities in the county.
After analyzing the statistics, Lootens said they met with community organizations and presented their findings. Warsaw Community Public Library was one of the most interested organizations in the Web site. WCPL continued to work with the group on the project and adopted the project as their own.
WCPL employees involved in the Web site include Zach Doppelt, Eric Kimes, Harper Apted, Ann Zydek and Joani Brookins. An advisory board for the Web site is being created.
Six organizations already have locked in their participation on the Web site, including North Webster Community Center, Warsaw Parks & Recreation, Baker Youth Clubs, Sus Amigos, WCPL and Warsaw Community Schools. Each organization will be responsible to maintain their own calendar.
"Of course," Lootens said, "we hope more organizations will come into the mix."
The goals of the project are to increase awareness of what local youth activities are being offered; provide a single online location where parents and students can obtain information on youth activities easily; provide participating organizations with secure access to their section of the Web site to keep their portion of the calendar updated; provide easy-to-use Web-based tools for participating organizations and site users; and provide a no-charge, value-added service to users at a low cost to participating organizations.
Local students also are involved with the Web site. Last year, Lootens said they partnered with Linda Hoy's marketing class at Warsaw Community High School. The students came up with the logos, colors, etc. to use on the Web site. They also had a contest for the Web site name.
"We didn't use everything they suggested, but we definitely used as much as we could," said Lootens.
Students also will help get the word out about the Web site.
One of the Web site's tag lines is "Be active. Get connected. Stay informed."
That's what the creators behind the Web site hope students will do through the Web site. Be an actively participating member of the Kosciusko County community.
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