Rocket Kids Triples Placements at U.S. Army Bases Abroad in Second Summer

Rocket Kids Triples Placements at U.S. Army Bases Abroad in Second Summer

As its latest cohort prepares to spend the summer on U.S. Army bases across Europe, Rocket Kids is expanding its footprint across the United States.

"College students are taking notice of this unique opportunity to serve children while exploring the world," said Dr. Sammy Spann, creator of Rocket Kids and vice president of student affairs at The University of Toledo. "We have more than three times as many interns this summer compared to 2023, and we're excited to continue that momentum going forward with new training opportunities."

UToledo leads the program that recruits and trains current students and recent graduates from across the country to provide quality child development and care at military bases around the world. Housed in the Judith Herb College of Education, Rocket Kids launched in February, 2023, with a $11.5 million, five-year grant through the Department of Army Installation Management Command-Europe NAF.

Its first-year interns worked with children ranging in age from infants to teenagers on U.S. Army bases in Europe. As the program heads into its second year, Rocket Kids is working to expand programming to other sites and other branches of the military.

Twenty-six students participated in last summer's inaugural term, leading educational development and recreational programming on three bases in Germany and one each in Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands. In the program's second summer the number of interns has more than tripled to 76 assigned to five bases in Germany, two in Italy and one each in Belgium and the Netherlands.

These latest interns represent a dozen universities, in a testament to the expansion the program has seen with the development of new training sites beyond UToledo. Each intern receives more than 45 hours of training and certifications before traveling to Europe.

In December Rocket Kids established a training site at Indiana State University and at San Diego State University, which are training 21 and 23 interns, respectively, for placements that will begin in early June. An online training program currently training 14 interns also launched in December.

UToledo, with a training program now in its second year of implementation, remains the headquarters and largest training site for Rocket Kids. UToledo is currently training 37 interns.

All interns receive 12 UToledo credit hours while they participate in a fall, spring or summer term. Beginning in fall semester, students also will obtain a certificate titled Child and Youth Work in a Global Setting, which will be reflected in their transcript.

Kenyata Stevenson, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in English with a concentration in literature on May 4, was among the first cohort of interns to travel to Brussels, Belgium. He worked with middle school students there last summer, planning recreational activities and outings with the goal that his charges look back on their months together as one of their best summers on base.

"The kids were definitely the highlight of my experience," Stevenson said. "I'd be out exploring different countries on the weekends, and my mind was on what activity I had planned for them.

"I enjoyed going on weekly field trips with them. They were such a joy to explore zoos and amusement parks with," he continued. "And they all had such unique stories to tell. I went in not knowing a lot about military life, so each time they'd open up about themselves, I was always left in awe of just how different their lives had been from mine when I was their age."

Stevenson is on track to return this summer before he begins his first semester of graduate school at Kent State University, where he plans to pursue a master of library and information science degree.

"The kids made me promise I'd be back, and I share their enthusiasm to have one last summer together," he said. "I'm most looking forward to hearing what they did over the past year.

"I'm also looking forward to seeing the Child and Youth Services staff again. They were all so kind and helpful throughout the summer. It's going to be awesome reconnecting with them again."

Any U.S. citizen enrolled at a U.S. college or university is eligible to apply to intern with Rocket Kids. All majors are welcome, with previous child care experience. Fall, spring and summer terms last 10 to 12 weeks, and the program provides for housing, travel expenses and a per diem living stipend of approximately $25.

For more information and to apply, visit the Rocket Kids website.