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Powell Receives National Award for Leadership, Advocacy of Youth Camps Writer: Angela Hains, 706/542.5889, anicole7@uga.edu Contact: Gwynn Powell, 706/542.4332, gpowell@uga.edu
Gwynn Powell and her UGA students greet young Russian campers in UGA's first study abroad program in Russia in the summer of 2005
Faculty member Gwynn Powell has been a camper, counselor, lifeguard and administrator of youth camps since she was eight years old. Now, she is being recognized nationally for her leadership and dedication to advancing those camps.
Powell, an assistant professor in the department of counseling and human development services, has received the National Honor Award from the American Camp Association (ACA) in recognition of her work as a volunteer, mentor and seasonal staff educator with Camp Counselor USA (CCUSA), both nationally and internationally. She received the award at the ACA's annual national conference in Chicago Feb. 7-10.
In a career dedicated to preparing young professionals to work with youth in the College's recreation and leisure studies program, Powell has combined her research with her passion for the camp experience.
“My research focuses on issues that face professionals who work with today's youth such as risk management, staff training and program development,” she said. “Investigating recreational approaches to informal education is a natural tie-in to the camp setting because much learning occurs in camp.”
When she is not researching and teaching at UGA, Powell can be found working at camps around the nation. She has been professionally involved with the American Camp Association (ACA) since 1984.
Last summer, Powell began sharing her American camp expertise with camps in Russia , bringing with her several UGA students – participants in the university's first study abroad program in Russia.
Collaborating with CCUSA, Powell directed the program which allowed UGA students to serve as English language and culture counselors at two Russian youth camps. The goal of the initiative was to help the summer camps continue to operate at quality levels, while finding a new purpose and program focus during a political transition, she said.
Powell's passion for combining fun and learning is clearly reflected in her answer about this summer's return to work with Russian youth camps with her UGA students.
“I have already started my pile of fun, new ways to teach the Russian children about the United States and basic English through games,” she said. “I just found a 3-foot wide beach ball that is a globe. Now that should make for some fun education and volleyball this summer! Plus, I'm running low in my supply of Russian chocolate, so it's time to return.”
Powell's excellence in teaching has already been recognized by her UGA students. She was one of six COE faculty members to receive Outstanding Teacher Awards at UGA Honors Day in 2005.
Her teaching naturally focuses on community service as well as the classroom. She has involved her students heavily in the highly successful UGA-Clarke School Partnership in which they work with students in two Clarke County elementary schools both in their schools and during intersession activities on the UGA campus.
The work provides invaluable real-world experience for her UGA students, many of who will have to work with schoolchildren in their jobs after they graduate, said Powell. The success of her classes has led the department to revamp its curriculum this year to incorporate more experience-based courses.
Powell, who joined the UGA faculty in 2001, earned her Ph.D. in park, recreation, and tourism management from Clemson University, an M.S. in recreation from Indiana University, and a B.A. in psychology; speech and dramatic arts from Mercer University.
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