SOUTH CAROLINA
SPRING 2012
Recreation & Parks ASSOCIATION
Recreation and the Role it Has Played in My Life Student Swings Her Way to The Citadel
D O GO RT A T S
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SOUTH CAROLINA
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Recreation & Parks Association
2012 Board of Directors
Association Report..........................................................................5 Meet Chris (Kibby) Druce.................................................................6 Former Student Swings Her Way to the Citadel..................................7 Getting a Good Start in Recreation Programs...................................8 Recreation and the Role it Has Played in My Life.............................. 11 Get to Know Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission...13
ADVERTISER INDEX
Executive Committee President: Joe Ross (p) (843) 389-2785 (f) 667-0934 jross@florenceco.org
Past President: Jan Cox (p) 864-467-4491 (f) 467-5735 jbcox@greenvillesc.gov
President Elect: Mark Sexton (p) (803) 329-8777 (f) 329-8786 msexton@cityofrockhill.com
Central VP: David Linder (p) 803-329-5672 (f) 329-5677 dlinder@cityofrockhill.com
Vice President: Don Shuman (p) 864-329-8777 (f) 329-8786 msexton@cityofrockhill.com
Eastern VP: Matt Gibbons (p) 843-280-5574 jmgibbons@nmb.us
Secretary: Jessica Campbell (p) 803-642-7648 jcampbell@cityofaikensc.gov
Southern VP: Will Rishovd (p) 843-216-6366 rishovdw@charleston-sc.gov
Treasurer: Eric Stewart (p) 864-343-6353 estewart@ccprc.com
Western VP: Jon Luton (p) 864-595-5356 (f) 595-5363 john.luton@spartanburgparks.org
Churchich Recreation and Design....................................................5 General Recreation................................................Inside Front Cover Hunter Knepshield................................................................................3 Musco Sports Lighting....................................................... Back Cover Pernsteiner Creative Group, Inc........................................................12 Playworld Preferred............................................................................12 RJ Thomas Mfg. Co...............................................................................4 South Carolina Aquarium...................................................................13 The Parking Place..................................................................................3 Wood + Partners...................................................................................4 Thank you to our advertisers for your help in supporting SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks magazine. We kindly ask members to please support our advertisers. Interested in advertising? Contact Todd Pernsteiner at 877-694-1999 or info@pernsteiner.com.
Branches CBM Branch: TBD ELM Branch: Tom O’Rourke (p) 843-762-2172 (f) 762-2683 torourke@ccprc.com EMB: David Caldwell (p) 843-665-3253 (f) 665-3264 dcaldwell@cityofflorence.com PRM Branch: Justin Mullis (p) 864-804-8073 (f) 593-5363 justin.mullis@spartanburgparks.org RAP Branch: Julie Edmond (p) 803-213-1194 jedmond@icrc.net
SCAP Branch: Paul McCulloch (p) 843-545-3319 (f) 545-3396 pmcculloch@gtcounty.org Student Branch Wellness Branch NRPA Southern Regional Representative (1 voting member of board) Professional: Willis Lee (2012) (p) 864-231-2232 (f) 231-2298 wlee@cityofandersonsc.com
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SCRPA EXECUTIVE STAFF CPRP, Executive Director: James E. Headley jim@scrpa.org
Membership Services Coordinator: Melissa Williams melissa@scrpa.org
SCRPA P.O. Box 1046 Lexington, SC 29071-1046 (p) 803-808-7753 (f) 803-808-7754 www.scrpa.org, info@scrpa.org
Spring 2012 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 3
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Please join us for these one-day events. Activities Online registration are listed in is available for order by date. activities requiring advance registration.
MAY 6
JoiN US! Louis Park City of St. Center The Rec y Drive 3700 Montere MN 55416 Park, St. Louis
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Earth Day and
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All18 ages St. Louis Park
Aquatic
House
Get face to face Park with a live raptor Earth. Visit as you celebrate with local organizations the to make a big to learn simple impact on our ways planet. Make planting trees a difference by or picking up litter. The interactive group “Kidtime with Rachael” musical will be performing. Refreshments provided. Bring a lunch and for a showing stick around of “An See movie descriptionInconvenient Truth” at 12:30 p.m. on page __. sponsored by Waste Management. This event is co22 Westwood Hills Saturday, Nature April 26, 10 a.m. - noon Westwood HillsCenter Nature Center, 8300 W. Franklin Free Ave. no registration required
Mother’s Day
Open House
All ages (children must be accompanied by a paid adult) Celebrate Mom! Bring her to the nature center a pot flowers 36 of The and plant Rec to take home. Lead scavenger her on a spring hunt in search Center plants of beautiful Treat her to spring wildflowers. a sundae that is out of enjoy Mom’s special day. Program this world. Come and is open-house Sunday, May style. 11, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Westwood Nature Center, 8300 W. Franklin $4 per person Ave. (resident) / $5 (non-resident) Activity #____ Registration deadline: when program is filled
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Fun Runs
Come join us for a 5K family-friendly “Almost-a-Mile run or try the .” Both courses travel along paved youth and around lakes city trails before finishing Amphitheater at the Veterans’ in Wolfe Park. Memorial All proceeds Louis Park Youth support the St. Scholarship Fund. T-shirt and goodie Registrants receive bag. Park & Run a by Park Nicollet Heart and Vascular is generously sponsored Grand, Sam’s Center, Excelsior Club and Citizens & Independent Sunday, May Bank. 18 Registration begins at 8 a.m. $5 per person Almost-a-Mile Activity # ____ Starts at 9 a.m. $15 in advance / $18 on day of race 5K Activity # ____ 5K run starts at 9:15 a.m.
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4 SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks • www.scrpa.org
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by Jim Headley and Joe Ross
The Association Report
Associations by definition, serve as a place for those guided by a common interest, cause, or purpose. With astonishing success, the South Carolina Recreation and Parks Association (“SCRPA”) offers an array of programs and activities, and provides exceptional service with professionals from diverse backgrounds and interests. Our common cause is serving the public through our many parks and programs. The 2012 SCRPA Board is comprised of many talented professionals eager to serve the Association with enthusiasm and anticipation. As such, we have been working diligently to provide programs and a host of opportunities for our Association. One of our many goals is the obvious, satisfying the professional needs of YOU, the member. If we ever stray from servicing the membership, then we have lost our focus and run the risk of losing your membership, and more importantly, your trust in us. Your trust in us is something that the leadership and staff never take lightly and will never take for granted. With this issue, we will be expanding the services you receive from the post office. We have contracted with a new publishing company and have increased the number of issues to 4 per year (up from 2). One of those issues will also include a “pull out” section that will be a membership directory and buyers guide. This is something that we were unable to do with the previous publishing company. Since we are always in need new information and articles/interviews, if you have something or your agency has something already written, please forward it to us. We will put it in our queue and hopefully utilize it soon. You will continue to receive the newsletter “SCRAP Paper” 6 times a year in your e-box as well as the “SC Snapshots” on a weekly basis. The purpose of these publications is to be “quicker hitting” and to address time sensitive items. If you should have something to share with us for ei-
ther of those publications, please forward them to Melissa. Education and training is one of the main reasons many of you have joined SCRPA, so our districts and branches are busy planning their calendars, and we have several exciting opportunities in the coming months. The Professional Development Committee will help assist and promote those trainings this year. They will be helping to promote and plan out some of our major trainings which will occur on a yearly/bi-annual basis as well as certifications that will be offered to park and recreation employees.
The legislative season is also upon us. SCRPA will be involved in several regulatory Issues ranging from summer day camps to SLED check fees to aquatics. We will be monitoring and participating in these and other issues as they arise in the General Assembly. Please contact us if you see an issue or a member of your delegation contacts you and asks you about an issue that is not listed above or in one of our reports provide to you via snapshots. It is an exciting time, and will be a great year with your continued involvement. We look forward to serving you the member.
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Spring 2012 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 5
MEET Meet Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission’s
Chris (Kibby) Druce Operations Manager, Splash Island Water Park by Chris Pounder with CCPRC
Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC) employs 179 full-time time staff and over 700 part time staff during the peak summer months. Over the years, there have been quite a few full-time employees that have grown up with the agency and come up through the ranks. Currently there are 30 employees with at least 15 years of experience and another 17 with at least 20 years under their belt. While CCPRC has many long-term employees with extensive stories, one full-time hire stands out as a recent example of someone who has developed professionally in the agency. Chris (Kibby) Druce began his CCPRC career in May 2004 as a 16-year-old lifeguard. His first job was working at Splash Island Waterpark within Palmetto Islands County Park in Mount Pleasant, SC. He was hired with no previous work or aquatic experience yet he quickly developed a passion for aquatics, safety and customer service. As a lifeguard, Kibby developed a sense of responsibility, accountability and learned to work as part of a team. By the summer of 2006, Kibby had worked his way into a management role as lifeguard supervisor. As the lifeguard supervisor, Kibby furthered his development by honing his customer service and communication skills. Lifeguard supervisors are involved in numerous tasks including teaching CPR classes, handling challenging customers and dealing with the 25 different individuals that constitute the guard staff. A typical day starts with the lifeguard supervisor conducting a morning in-service training with the guards. This is the time to work on incident prevention and team management in order to keep everyone in a rescue-ready mindset. Once the waterpark opens, the lifeguard supervisor becomes one of the primary links between the guard staff and the paying customers. Working with the public in an aquatic environ-
6 SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks • www.scrpa.org
ment can be challenging. There are rules to be enforced for the safety of everyone and not all customers react the same to the enforcement of these rules. Kibby learned very quickly that there is a delicate balancing act to perform when enforcing rules that involve other people’s children and what they are allowed to do at the waterpark. After a couple of summers as a lifeguard supervisor, Kibby sought out additional responsibility. During the school year he became an instructor in the Safety, Health and Aquatic Rescue for Kids (SHARKS) program hosted by CCPRC. The SHARKS program is an after-school program geared towards teaching kids aquatic safety. It allowed Kibby the opportunity to improve his public speaking skills as well as learn how to keep a room full of elementary school kids interested in the topic that some may consider a little dry. A typical SHARKS class is about 20-30 grade school kids, but occasionally he was challenged with groups as large as 60. While Kibby was working for CCPRC, he was also a full-time student at Trident Technical College and then the College of Charleston. The challenge of working while being a full-time student provided for the development of time management skills that should benefit him for years to come. When asked why he stayed with CCPRC for the past seven years, Kibby said that he felt challenged each year with more responsibilities and new opportunities. Kibby is now enjoying the fruits of his labor. In May 2011 he graduated from College of Charleston with a BS in Economics and in June 2011 he was promoted to a full-time position with CCPRC. Kibby is currently the operations manager for Splash Island, where he started as a parttime lifeguard back in 2004.
former
Hook A Kid On Golf student swings her way to The Citadel by Linda Alberts, National Alliance for Youth Sports
T
he benefits of youth sport participation are numerous and well known. From physical activity to social skills to teamwork, children take both sport and life lessons away from their experiences. While team sports like soccer and football are usually the first to come to mind, golf is an equally beneficial sport. Since its inception in 1990, Hook A Kid On Golf has introduced more than 75,000 children to the game of golf. In fact, many children find that without a Hook A Kid On Golf program running in their community, they might have never been turned on to the sport. For former student TaKima Butler of Aiken, South Carolina, the program provided her access to equipment and instruction to learn how to golf when she was in the 8th grade. “You don’t know if you could do something until you try,” said Butler. “And Hook A Kid On Golf gave me an opportunity to try.” Following her first day at a Hook A Kid On Golf Tee Level Clinic hosted by the Aiken Junior Sports Association, Butler recalls really being “hooked” on the sport. Butler is one of the 1,000 local children who have completed the clinic offered by Aiken since 2002. After learning golf basics, including swinging, putting and chipping instruction, she went on to play for the high school golf team, and then for Spartanburg Methodist College. Most recently, Butler has joined the roster of the golf team at The Citadel, a military college.
Even though it’s been several years since Butler first picked up a golf club she recalls the support from the Hook A Kid On Golf instructors the most. “They were always encouraging and taught me to practice to become better,” she said. In addition to teaching golf’s rich history, rules and etiquette, Hook A Kid On Golf offers youth lessons that they can use on the green, and in life. As a youth athlete Butler learned the importance of hard work, a characteristic that she can expect to help her through her plans of studying criminal justice at The Citadel. According to Butler, “Keep working and practicing and you’ll never know where you’ll end up.”
You don’t know if you could do something until you trY
A program of the National Alliance for Youth Sports, Hook A Kid On Golf provides participating communities with all the tools necessary to provide an organized youth golf program, such as equipment, affordable instruction and a fun structure that teaches youth how to play the game on the course. Founded in 1981, the National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS) is America’s leading advocate for positive, safe sports and activities for children. The non-profit 501(c)(3) organization is headquartered in West Palm Beach, Fla. and works with more than 3,000 community-based youth sport programs across the country to provide programs and services for everyone involved in youth sports experiences, including professional administrators, volunteer administrators, volunteer coaches, officials, parents and young athletes.
keep working and practicing and you’ll never know where you’ll end up
Visit www.nays.org for more information.
Spring 2012 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 7
getting a
A T S D O GO s
m a r g o r P n In Recreatio
8 SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks • www.scrpa.org
ART For registration season in Rock Hill, recreation programs and their participants come and go. There are, however, some who stick around to enjoy their favorite activity their whole lives, and there are some who decide to give back and become volunteers themselves. While it’s hard to prove that getting involved in recreation at a young age leads to success as an adult, we are proud of those who grow up with the drive to give back.
by Katie Simmons, Youth Programmer City of Rock Hill Parks, Recreation and Tourism
she was 5 years old in the Rock Hill Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department’s (PRT) kickers program. She was an early graduate of Rock Hill High School, and started her soccer career at LSU in January 2010 as one of the top players in the South Atlantic Region. While she has had great success in sports and academics over the years, Alex can find time to give back to her community as well. Growing up in Rock Hill, she volunteered with several recreation programs. She was a volunteer referee in the youth soccer program, a volunteer with Special Olympics, and worked at Camp Arc, Rock Hill’s summer day camp for children and adults with disabilities.
Another Rock Hill native that is still giving back is Herson Reid, a 25 year-old who started his involvement in recreation as a teenager in the Mayor’s Teen Volunteers (now the Youth Service League), a program that promotes youth leadership by contributing several hours of community service each summer. He was also a member of the Rock Hill Youth Council, a program that consists of teens from each high school in Rock Hill who serve the community through representing Rock Hill’s youth and promotes teen activities and leadership opportunities.
A great example is Alex Ramsey, a sophomore for the Louisiana State University (LSU) women’s soccer team. A Rock Hill native, Alex started playing soccer when
Alex Ramsey
Herson
Spring 2012 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 9
T R A T S D GOO getting a
ograms
n Pr In Recreatio
Herson was a member of the Youth Council for 2 years and he now serves as a volunteer coach and is a field supervisor for PRT’s youth soccer program. Latoya Mayes, Center Supervisor at Emmett Scott Recreation Center in Rock Hill, grew up participating in all that the Recreation Centers had to offer. She attended the after school programs at Boyd Hill Center, where she participated in all of their activities and making friends with the other children in that
neighborhood. She has used all of her days in Rock Hill since then to strive to give back in the community. She started her own non-profit organization providing positive activities for youth, and later, as an employee of PRT, she continued the Center’s successful after school program and added many new programs. Through her involvement, Latoya has built meaningful relationships with all of the children who come into her building.
10 SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks • www.scrpa.org
All three of these individuals have nurtured interests and talents that developed through their involvement in recreation programs. And they are just a sample of the thousands who have grown up with the quality recreation programs offered through Rock Hill PRT over the past decades. There’s no telling what today’s generation of young people will be able to accomplish in the future because of what they are experiencing now. The sky’s the limit!
REcrEaTION aNd ThE rOlE IT haS plaYEd IN MY lIFE
By Hall Hiott, Assistant Director, LCPR
Terry, known around the state as “PD,” was the long time director for Fountain Inn Recreation and was one coach who I will always remember. Roger always had the kids’ best interests in mind. I played t-ball, baseball, football and basketball while growing up. My mom and dad stayed on the road 24/7 taking me to practice and games. Today, most kids specialize in a sport and stick just to that one sport. I enjoyed them all. As I got older, I made several all-star teams and made friends with kids from other teams and departments. I made many new friends that played at other highs schools that I still talk with today.
Hiott’s football photo during his junior year of High School at Hillcrest in Simpsonville.
My parents had the concession rights for the youth football and baseball games. I learned a lot about that side of the business that we all deal with every day. As you can see I grew up around the recreation department. I guess you could call me the local “rec brat.”
When I entered high school, I continued to play football, basketball and baseball. Football was my favorite sport, all 135 pounds of me. I was most gifted at baseball and played 4 years of American legion baseball. Back then legion baseball was considered the best of the best. During the summer months I got a part time job working for Simpsonville Recreation. I cut grass, a lot of grass, drug and lined “While my parents were ball fields and picked up always supportive and kept me trash. I later graduated to umpiring and pointed in the right direction, officiating ball games. recreation provided that tool for
As a young boy growing up in Simpsonville, SC my parents exposed me to all the basic sports and recreation programs that were offered by the local department. I can remember all the way back to my t-ball days and how much fun it was to just be at the fields. That was almost 44 years ago, and that first experience in t-ball helped to shape my life and lead me to the field I am in today.
During my younger years while participating in the programs offered by When I went off to Simpsonville me to make new friends, learn about attend Winthrop Recreation teamwork, and have a work ethic University, I had Department, I to develop myself as a player no idea what I was began to develop going to do. My first as a person. Sports and person.” summer off I went back and summer day camp to Simpsonville and ran the programs taught me a lot summer day camp program. That about life. ended up being a two-year deal. When I While my parents were always supportive returned to school I started thinking about and kept me pointed in the right direction, what I would do with my life. It was time recreation provided that tool for me to to buckle down. I started thinking about make new friends, learn about teamwork, what I was good at and the experiences and have a work ethic to develop myself as I had growing up in the local recreation a player and person. I had good coaches department. It was a no-brainer, this is what while growing up. A lot of these coaches I wanted to do. had recreation careers themselves. Roger
Spring 2012 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 11
REcrEaTION aNd ThE rOlE IT haS plaYEd IN MY lIFE Winthrop had a major in Physical Education with a Leisure Service option. The next three and a half years were spent studying in this field. I spent time doing practicum work for Rock Hill Parks, Recreation and Tourism under Kathy Covington, worked at the Rock Hill YMCA, and did volunteer work at Andrew Jackson State Park in Lancaster. During my final semester, I interviewed and was hired as program supervisor for the Golden Strip YMCA in Simpsonville. I started my first job right back in the town where I participated as a kid.
Hiott gets one of his twin sons, Holden, ready for his first football game for Lancaster County Parks and Recreation PEE WEE football season.
Manufactured by
Four years went by and I received the opportunity to move to Lancaster, SC and become the first athletic program supervisor in the history of the department. It was a big step in my life. Working and administering all the sports programs that I participated in as a kid was amazing. Learning soccer was more amazing. I had no clue about the game of soccer. I learned as I went. Year in and year out, Lancaster County competes for SCAP state soccer titles. That is one program of which I am very proud. Today, I am the assistant director of Parks and Recreation for Lancaster County. I have been here almost 22 years and I look back at my life and see what I have done. It’s always been about recreation, from the first time I could hold a ball in my hand. Thanks to all of the recreation professionals, coaches and players that have been and continue to be a part of my life. It’s been fun!
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As you can see by reading this article, recreation shaped and influenced my life as it is today. As recreation professionals we touch a lot of people’s lives. If the experience can influence our own lives, just think what we can do for others!
He’ll soon need new playground equipment. Stay top of mind. For as little as $225 per issue, SCRPA magazine gets you in front of key recreation & park decision makers. No other form of advertising gets you so targeted.
SOUTH CAROLINA MAGAZINE HELPS YOU REACH… • Over 1,000 South Carolina Recreation & Park Association members: recreation managers, arts coordinators, grounds keepers, senior activity programmers, event planners, facility managers, site planners, parks maintenance, golf course managers, sports organizations. • Over 100 SCRPA business partner members and other state park and recreation associations. • Over 500 South Carolina Society of Association Executives (SCSAE) - meeting/event planners, communication managers, convention bureaus, hotels, and sports leagues (Summer issue). • Online magazine readers via digital edition.
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Spring 2012 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 13
get to
Know
Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission
14 SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks • www.scrpa.org
SERVICE AREA: Charleston County, SC Population: 355,276 (source: U.S. Census Bureau) Year founded: Created as the Charleston County Park, Recreation and Tourist Commission in 1968; tourism transferred in 1985 to create the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission. Annual Budget: $11,743,786 General Fund Revenue, $12,534,076 Enterprise Revenue, $5,305,525 Debt Service and Capital Revenue plus agency reserves Agency Head: Thomas J. O’Rourke, Executive Director Facilities: Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC) runs a diverse park system which includes: three nature-oriented parks with recreation offerings, bicycle paths, boardwalks, dog parks, meeting facilities and covered picnic shelters; an interpretive center, rich in natural, cultural, and historical resources, and an equestrian center which hosts exhibitions, festivals, and competitive horse shows. These four facilities, collectively, offer over 33 miles of trails. The agency also operates three family-fun water parks; three beachfront parks on the Atlantic Ocean; a 125-site campground and vacation cottages, both conveniently located to Charleston’s historical district; a marina with 165 deep-water boat slips; a 1045’ saltwater fishing pier with a full-service restaurant; and a 1250’ pier that stretches into the Charleston Harbor with views of the historic Patriots Point and USS York Town. Programs: Taking advantage of all the water in and around Charleston, CCPRC offers a wide variety of interesting programs such as: kayaking, canoeing, sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, fishing, crabbing, seining, and seashell strolling. Other outdoor activities include hiking, biking, trail riding, gardening, and birding. A 50’ wall features more than 4,500 square feet of climbing space and offers climbing classes and competitions. Special events include: Lowcountry Cajun Festival, Latin American Festival, Harvest Festival, Pet Fest, Yappy Hour, Dog Day Afternoon, fishing tournaments, a concert series, dances on the piers, outdoor movies, triathlons and races, and a 52-night Holiday Festival of Lights. A Challenge Course program is tailored to specific goals of groups interested in improving communication, problem solving, trust, and other valuable group and individual skills.
PHOTOS Top Isle of Palms County Park Right Ravenel Caw Caw Interpretive Center
CCPRC co-sponsors with the Charleston County Charleston County School District a Community Education Program, which develops and implements program activities, which may include: family resources, school-age child care and extended learning programs; community service activities; enrichment programs for all community members; and Graduate Equivalency Diploma (GED) programs. Keys to Success: • All Agency Staff members buy in to the Agency’s CORE VALUES. Staff believes in the agency’s values because they developed it. Everything the agency does speaks to at least one of its Core Values. • The Agency is financially solvent. CCPRC’s revenues go up each year because expenses are kept lower than revenues, plus the agency maintains a 12 million dollar reserve. CCPRC maintains an enterprise philosophy in which the user pays for the service. More importantly, those who do not use the service are not charged. • There is a strong commitment to Professional Development. The agency makes a significant contribution toward the professional development of its employees.
< PHOTOS Top Splash Island Waterpark I The Plantation at Bunlow I Folley Beach County Park Bottom Mount Pleasant Palmetto Islands County Park
Spring 2012 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 15
SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation & Parks Association
P.O. Box 1046 Lexington, SC 29071-1046
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