Kids in Motion summer program empowers youths through real-world learning, community service

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Douglass Community Services’ Kids in Motion (KIM) summer program provides local youths with immersive learning opportunities and life skills development.

Support from General Mills, the Stones Prairie Foundation, the United Way of the Mark Twain Area, the Early Bird Kiwanis Club and the Community Foundation of Western Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri allows this summer’s program to serve 15 students per session over two two-week sessions.

For more than 20 years, Kids in Motion has connected young people with hands-on opportunities in career exploration, volunteerism, personal financial fundamentals and soft skills development. Each session includes theme days like Entrepreneur Day and Tourism Day as well as service learning through volunteering and gardening with MU Extension.

In a press release, KIM summer supervisor Paula Schneider praised the program’s impact, saying, “The girls are developing outstanding skills that will remain with them forever. I am astonished at the significant knowledge they have gained and the skills they have honed in such a brief time frame. The Kids in Motion program is outstanding.”

Eleanor Miller, 2024 KIM alum and current program ambassador, reflected on her experience, “I really enjoyed being able to do service projects and help out in the community during my two weeks in the program. It also was a great learning experience when I went with the other ambassadors to Jefferson City and share about our program.”

Participants not only learn the basics of saving and budgeting but also develop communication, leadership and collaboration skills.

“The group you sent through was great,” said Grace Wells, administrative manager at Northeast Missouri Emergency Communications (NECOMM911). “They had wonderful manners, very good and smart questions and I enjoyed my time with them. I’m thankful to have the program in our community and provide this opportunity for the kiddos.”

“Our goal is to open doors, expand minds, and give kids a glimpse of what their future can be,” said Emily Trevathan, chief operations officer at Douglass Community Services. “We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors and partners for investing in our youth and making this program possible.”

To learn more about Kids in Motion or other youth programs at Douglass Community Services, contact Trevathan at 573-221-3892 or visit www.douglassonline.org.