Fred Schnell has joined the program team in the last year to support the Youth and Family programs. Since then, he has taken on the roles of managing events from the incredibly successful Pokémon Club to fun family birthday parties. We took a moment to sit down and talk with him about why he loves working at the J and the impact he has seen with the kids engaged in these programs.
Tell us a little bit about your role and what you do at the J.
I oversee programs for children and families. If there are kids at an event, I am involved in some way. There are programs available for kids of all ages ranging from toddlers in the Tiny Tots classes to teens attending Kids Night Out. There is something for everyone at the J!
What are some of your favorite programs you run? And why?
Pokémon Club is by far my favorite program! Collecting Pokémon cards is a personal hobby of mine. I am grateful that I can share my love for Pokémon with such a great group of kids.
I have also enjoyed teaching the Kids Art Studio. Children are fountains of creativity, and it is inspiring to see their ideas come to life.
What excites you most about coming to work each day?
There are always new and exciting things happening at the J! Each day looks a little different since there are so many programs to choose from. No matter what else is taking place at the J, I always look forward to providing transportation services each day for After Crew, our after-school program. Driving the bus gives me a chance to connect with the kids in the community and helps me to keep up with their ever-changing interests.
What do you hope your programs achieve?
It is my hope that the children’s programs at the J provide opportunities for families and kids to connect with one another. Children can take advantage of the programs to try new things with new people or become further involved in their personal interests.
