132. Activities for All Students (Amber Brown)

.: 2025

[00:00:00] Welcome back to another edition of Education Eclipse. I am joined by Amber Brown, kinesiology faculty member Amber. How good does it hear, uh, feel to hear that you're, you're faculty now? It really is, uh, kind of strange, but also, um, I'm, uh, very excited about the opportunity. Um, so yeah, I'm really excited about this upcoming school year.

Looking forward to teaching Kines 1 38 as well as doing my connective program director role. So yeah, it should be a fun year. Let's assume for the sake of conversation that I don't know what Kines 1 38 is, because I don't Yeah. Kines 1 38 is introduction to kinesiology. So yeah, it's an introductory class, um, that all of our canis and at, uh, students have to take.

. Um, and it just introduces [: 00:01:00

So, so talk about, you said Kines Act, um, your role as a director. So that's actually what you came to the College of Education, sport and Human Sciences for a couple years ago, right? Yeah, that's totally correct. Yeah. Uh, yes. I love being totally correct, not just a little bit correct. Uh, and so talk about what that is and, and you said you're continuing your role in that because yes, you are new faculty, but you're not new to the college of.

s kind of, it's kind of rad. [: 00:02:00

Look like when you first came in? Yeah, so I came into the university in August of 2023 as the Kinesiology Activity Program director, uh, which is just the one credit activity class program, uh, for students here on campus. Um, any students can take, uh, activity classes for credit. Uh, there's a wide range of classes, things like self-defense.

Bowling, golf, weight training, yoga, meditation, Pilates, fly fishing. There's a whole range of activities that students can choose from. Fly fishing. Fly fishing. Yes. We are bringing fly fishing back again this fall semester, and it's. Uh, at max enrollment, so, oh yeah, it's super popular. Uh, it's actually I think, one of the neater classes because they actually get to go out the St.

lly really excited about it. [: 00:03:00

Which my brother does that and I know nothing about. I know how to catch a good game. Trout out of a lake in western Washington. I don't know how to fly fish, but not fly fishing. Yeah. I don't have much experience with fly fishing myself, but my father has extensive, he used to fly fish all the time on the Yakima River.

I'm, I grew up over in Yakima area and he loves to fly fish and would fly fish the Yakima River all the time. Okay, there you go. So you grew up in the Palm Springs of Washington. That's right. Palm Springs of Washington. Well that's awesome. So. So these one credit, you said, anybody can can take these, which I think is great.

career isn't writing on the [: 00:04:00

It gets them in a space where they emotionally, mentally, physically, you know, are doing something that's healthy. I think that's awesome. And is that your background? I mean, is that what you went to school for? Yeah, so I have my master's degree in exercise physiology. So yeah, that's my, my background sport exercise, science related.

And I have had, uh, a number of different jobs that have brought me, uh, to where I am now at WSU. Uh, right after I got my master's, I worked over in Seattle for a year or so. In, uh, cardiac rehab as an exercise specialist there. I'm from Central Washington and I, this was my first time going to Seattle and I absolutely hated it, so you could not pay me enough money to move back to Seattle.

eah, I got out of there, um, [: 00:05:00

That's your jam. Oh yeah, that's right. Okay. Uhhuh. I live in Potlatch right now and even then I'm like, so there's too many people here. Yeah. I don't think most people think of that when they think of potlatch. Probably not know, but there's way too many people here. Yeah, I grew up out like five miles outta town.

We had like two neighbors, so that's, that's more my jam than I get it. Alright. And now here you are though, at the university. That's right. So you're moving to, to, uh, faculty, you're still gonna do the director position. Mm-hmm. Congratulations on that. Um, by the way, thank you. Now, now your, your title, your clinical right?

um, no, it's just teaching, [: 00:06:00

Darryl Craig, um, moved over to become faculty and I think he's rather enjoyed it. Um, yeah, I think so. Yeah. Does it have mostly just to do with teaching. Yeah, it was, um, because I had adjunct taught KIN 1 38 for the past couple years. So, um, just working with, uh, the department chair to, um, more of looking at like a long-term strategic plan for the college and.

just walked into another, I, [: 00:07:00

Yeah. But let's talk about the teaching aspect of the kinesiology activity courses, because obviously. As an example, you talked about not knowing how to, uh, you know, fish for flies. Yeah, that's right. That's what my sister said. Why would people fish for flies? Uhhuh we're like, um, okay, how do I explain this to her?

Um, so, so you obviously have to coordinate with, uh, people who are experts, uh, or, you know, in those individual fields, those respective fields. Yes. So talk about the, you know, the, uh. Enormous aspect of that because you've mentioned a whole lot of courses, which means there's a whole lot of people that you have to work with.

we'll say, [: 00:08:00

So, uh, yeah, so I have to manage all those classes and I have about 25 instructors or so for each of those classes. Um, some of the instructors double dip in classes, which is totally fine. Yeah, so there's about 25, 25 instructors that I'll be. Supervising and training and going through orientations and meeting with, and stopping by.

I try to stop by all 30 of those classes, at least for just like five or 10 minutes so that students in the class know who I am. Otherwise, they're never gonna see me because yeah. You should give me a list of, of when the classes take place and just let all the teachers know they may have some random dude stop by and take pictures.

ks. I don't have time for at [: 00:09:00

Um, 'cause I feel like a lot of people don't know much about the program. I know that enrollment for the classes was. Quite a bit, uh, larger pre COVID, and since then we're kind of struggling to build back up. And I don't know if it's just because, you know, the students that were here pre COVID are no longer here.

Mm-hmm. We have the COVID kids that have come in and Yeah. They're just not used to being active and, and, and in, you know, in some regards, there's less enrollment to begin with. Right. Yeah, that is true. Yeah. Overall, yeah. So I don't know if you have a magic number for. I, uh, you don't have to come up with this unless you already have it right in your back pocket in a holster here.

magic number of classes is, [: 00:10:00

Instructors and students and yeah, it'd be better to have fuller classes. Yeah. Yeah. Well that's, that's pretty neat. So what are the dates that students need to register, um, you know, for those, um, can they go all the way up until you know, a specific time? As long as it's not full. Yeah. So students have until, well through the second week of classes to enroll.

ere are some eight week two. [: 00:11:00

'cause they don't start until October. Okay. Yeah. Do Is there, is there a limit, um, to the number of times a student can take one of these kind of courses? Or does it just as long as it falls within their academic plan and you know, they're paying for the credit and whatever, they can do that. Yeah, they can take, uh, a different course up to, uh, like four.

I think you can repeat 'em up to four credits. Of the same class. So like they could take golf in the fall, golf in the spring. Oh yeah. Um, okay. But they could do, I guess virtually as many as they wanted, as long as they were spreading out. Yeah. The different kinds of courses like fly fishing in the fall.

Yeah, they could do golf in the spring. You know, their freshmen, or sorry, I think it's first year students. Their first year students is what we're calling 'em now. Uh, and then sophomore year they, they do another couple. Right. Yeah. Yeah. They can take 'em all through their career and even graduate students can take 'em, so, yeah.

retty cool. Now, do you have [: 00:12:00

And one time I walked into that class and those students were like, it's in PB 1 44, and they were like covering the entire gym, like hitting this ball back and forth. Mm-hmm. And I was like, this is. This is so cool. 'cause they were so intense about it and really into it, so Oh yeah. I've seen the intensity.

Yeah. You know, it used to be a, a, a leisurely sport, right? Yeah. Uh, of, of geriatric age primarily. Yeah. And now it's so competitive. Mm-hmm. That, I mean, you get, you literally get people who are like, you know, they don't want somebody to play with them 'cause they're not a 4.0 or a 3.5 rating and, you know.

nd I was like, what is going [: 00:13:00

Um, speaking of Pot LA actually, they have a pickleball set up there in the park and mostly geriatric. They'll play like every Wednesday and every Saturday, but, um. Yeah, it's kind of fun to see out there. It, it's the fastest growing, apparently the fastest growing like recreational co-ed sport in the United States.

And a lot of places now, um, in, in a different role that I had some years back. I, I actually helped get the pickleball course that we have here in Pullman. Mm-hmm. Which was kind of neat. But there are, there are communities that. The impact fees that they assess on developers. Right? So you come in and make a subdivision, you have to do something in that subdivision to add to the quality of life.

cool. Um, and I dunno if you [: 00:14:00

Um, one of their, uh, I think. Either the vice president or someone involved with the club is actually my pickleball instructor this semester. Mm-hmm. So yeah, we got a new club. Um, yeah. That's pretty cool. That's, that's neat. My, my mother-in-law actually lives in a community where it, it's an over 55 community and that was one of the first things that they put in where pickleball courts, and she said, um, 'cause we're talking kinesiology activity and movement and staying active.

She said that actually had a, that has had a, a very positive impact. For quality of life and they have a pool and, you know, lap swims and all that. Mm-hmm. And she, she just has noticed that, you know, these are the kind of things that they don't seem strenuous. You're not talking about too rough and tumble, you know, no on, on your body, your joints, it.

s, but also for college aged [: 00:15:00

Which is, yeah, another class I'm super excited about that I'm gonna. Offer starting this spring is Sal, so kinda like Oh, indoor soccer. Yeah. Yeah, because that's really popular as well. Um, so, um, yeah, I know that's really popular over at U Rec, so I'm hoping that we'll translate over to connect for the listener.

Talk about what that is. Futsal. It's, it's basically. Indoor soccer. Um, the goals are a little smaller. The balls are a little smaller. The, the, it's not a soccer court. The soccer field, I guess is the pitch. The pitch, yeah. Is a little bit smaller. Um, but yeah, it's up and coming and it's, it's super popular.

So I've seen a lot of interesting sports like the, it's like ping pong, but with, you know, with your body you use like, but it is a bigger ball and you have to like. Fun. Kick the ball over. It's, it's very strange to watch it and these people are so good at it and you're like, how did you wake up one morning going, you know what I want to do?

I wanna do kind of like ping [: 00:16:00

And just like the balls are a little bit lighter weight and yeah, just, uh, swing and hit the ball down the court. Yeah. It's the weirdest thing. Let, but it looks fun. Hey, let's, let's combine bowling. Hockey. I know. And hockey, right. And hockey and. Like whatever else. Yeah, it looks super fun, but I don't think that Interesting.

I don't think that depos would be up for, for that. So, so how, so I'm just thinking, 'cause you mentioned something being done at U Rec, so what's the relationship with, um, between the College of Education Sport and Human Sciences, the Kines Act, uh, with like urac, because obviously they're providing programming.

Mm-hmm. And. [: 00:17:00

Yeah, so I can't speak for anyone else, but I've had a good relationship with you Rec. Um, I met with, I've met with Joanne Green, um, a couple times. Mm-hmm. She's been there a long time. Um, yeah, yeah, she's great. Um, every time that I've, um, met with her and chatted with her and I also, um, chat with Jared frequently, um, over in U Rec.

And Jared Lindor. Yeah. Yeah. A a sport management alumnus, by the way. Yes. We just did a little feature about him. Oh, did you? Yes, we did. A little. Very cool. Yes, because, uh, sport management has their 40th anniversary celebration coming up. Nice. Uh, fall marks the 40th, 40th anniversary. So September 5th and sixth, we're doing this, this big, um, celebration and we're gonna have some speakers.

Chuck [: 00:18:00

Yeah. You know, that kind of stuff. And so yeah, it was, it was really neat to hear his perspective on, on things. Yeah. Yeah. He is great. He does, uh, he does a lot of the scheduling. Um. Uh, because like we have the shared facilities agreement between athletics, rec, and, um, college of Education for connective stuff.

And so Jared does all the scheduling for that. So yeah, there's a bunch of email chains that go back and forth and then. Yeah, Jared ends up scheduling and he inputs all the connective classes in the calendar so everybody knows when everything, everything is, um, but yeah, it's been great. And I've been on a couple hiring committees for U Rec.

ch is great. Yeah. And we're [: 00:19:00

This lifeguard might be good instructor. So yeah, I've had a, I have a, I have a good relationship, I think with, with ec. Yeah. So if anyone has any questions, like connective, like questions mm-hmm. Should they just direct 'em to you? Should they, is there a general, very general email address out there for, for the program or how should they, um, get.

You know, and we can put this in the show notes and stuff too, but Yeah. Yeah, they can just email me directly would be perfect. Um, amber dot n.Brown@wcu.edu. What's the n stand for Nancy? Uh, Nicole. Nicole. Nicole. Yeah, I've heard it both ways. Uh, amber dot n Yeah. As in Nicole. Yep. Do Brown. Yep. At w.edu.

Mm-hmm. Okay. Yeah, that's, [: 00:20:00

And I have some new instructors who I think are gonna be a great addition to our team and I'm excited for them to teach and for the growth, uh, for them and for their students. And I'm also excited to teach, uh, kines 1 38, uh, because I do enjoy the freshmen and, um, I do love teaching. So. Yeah, I'm just excited for a little bit of everything to see all the students on campus.

Yeah. I'm glad to hear that.[: 00:21:00

Uh, well, Amber, let me just ask you if you have, if you have any last words. I mean, you got the baton right there in front of you. So it's live, it's, it's on. So anything you, uh, you want to add before we cut off? Um, yeah, the connective program, um, is always looking for instructors. So if think you might be interested Yes.

Instructor. Oh, I've got a few skills. Being instructor. Yeah. Being an instructor for, uh, the connective program, uh, we pay students around $18 an hour. It is, you know, part-time position, but if you have background or knowledge in a sport or activity and you'd like to share that knowledge with others and.

Yeah, just give me, give me an email. Okay. Um, yeah, and I'm not a student and as it turns out, I actually don't have any skills. So, but whatever. No, I Sure you do. Please. Uh, I appreciate it. Amber Brown, new, uh, new career track teaching faculty here in the College of Education Sport and Human Sciences. Also, the, uh, kinesiology activity director still.

r plate full, but we're glad [: 00:22:00

And of course, you know, as we always say, go Cougs. That's right. Thank you so much, Brandon. And yes, go Cougs.