Jeanne Smith (left) is the new Cook County Kids Plus coordinator and Sarah Stover is the new True North AmeriCorps volunteer. They are working together to bring youth programming to Cook County.
There are new faces on the Cook County Schools campus in Grand Marais. Jeanne Smith and Sarah Stover are the new coordinators for Cook County Kids Plus and True North AmeriCorps. Don’t worry, though, the new faces are very friendly and there is still a wide variety of activities available for Cook County kids.
Jeanne Smith came on board as the Kids Plus Youth Coordinator in August after Ilena Berg left to work for Cook County Soil & Water District. “Ilena has been very gracious and helpful,” said Smith.
Smith feels quite at home at the school—she grew up in Cook County and graduated from CCHS in 1995. Smith is dividing her time between the Kids Plus position and her work as an attorney at the local law firm of Swanson and Heeren, P.C., a seemingly dissimilar job.
However, it really isn’t so different, said Smith, who works primarily in family law. However, she said being the Kids Plus Coordinator gives her an opportunity to see kids and families in very different dynamic—one that is really fun, she said. “I have longtime friends whose kids are now coming to the After School Lounge—that is really nice.”
Sarah Stover, the True North AmeriCorps Youth Member, is quick to answer the question she has heard quite often since taking on the Cook County position—no, she is not related to local physician Dr. Sandy Stover.
Sarah is originally from Michigan. She and her husband moved to Cook County in March 2011. Stover has worked with kids in a variety of settings and somehow finds a way to incorporate her science background. She graduated from Northern Michigan University with a bachelor of science in earth science.
An example of the fun things Stover brings to Cook County Youth is a recent demonstration on electromagnets and the action of polymers— using disposable diapers as an entertaining prop. “The kids were fascinated,” said Smith.
“It’s nice to put science into application in a non-formal education setting,” said Stover.
The women hope to attract more kids to the after school program with such activities. “And there are free snacks,” said Smith. “Kids are always hungry after-school.”
In fact, snacks helped smooth the staff transition for the kids. “Kids were a little taken back when school started and they saw new faces. They wanted to know, ‘Do we still get snacks?’ When we told them yes, they thought things were okay,” laughed Smith.
Activities at After School Lounge include swimming, crafts, outdoor games, bimonthly visits to the Care Center and more. The After- School Lounge is open to all community students in third through eighth grades.
Smith and Stover also oversee the other KidsPlus offerings that the community has come to expect—Incredible Exchange, Summer Kids Camp, Youth Leadership Training, Middle School Student Council, and more. They also offer after-school enrichment programs such as a baking class and archery. They are looking for volunteers for these activities as well as for after-school tutoring.
And of course, the annual Halloween Carnival will go on, albeit a bit scaled back. Stover said since there is no ice for skating and because Halloween is on a weeknight, the event will be a bit smaller than in previous years. However, she said there will be a costume contest, cakewalk, face painting, and snacks in the Community Center and the 4-H log building.
“And the coffin dig!” said Smith, explaining a new addition to the carnival. The party will have a “faux coffin” filled with sawdust (donated by Hedstrom Lumber) for the kids to dig in to find prizes.
If you’d like to learn more about Kids Plus, AmeriCorps and Cook County youth programming, stop by the Halloween carnival, or visit the youth leaders in their office at Cook County Community Education. They can also be reached by phone at (218) 387- 2271 or by e-mail to youthcoordinator@ isd166.k12.mn.us.
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