From Ashley:

Hello Everyone!
I would just like to take this time to introduce myself, as the new short-term intern for Purple Crayon Factory. My name is Ashley Brabec, a native Minnesotan who loves to be outdoors. I have just recently graduated fom Gustavus Adolphus College this past May, with degrees in Sociology and Anthropology...and my lovely little English minor.

Throughout my life I have learned and been shaped by the very work you all do at Purple Crayon Facatory, only in my experience I was given this things through a summer camp. Camp Eagle Ridge is a boys and girls summer leadership camp. The camp's emphasis is based around training young people to become leaders. For an hour each morning the campers have one of 40 orignal workshops (newly designed each year by the camp staff). All the workshops are focused on the characteristics that are found in a leader (for example: listening, problem-solving, teambuilding). The experience as a child was so life-changing that when I was old enough I began to work there every summer, in order to further instill the gift that I received to other children. This summer will be my sixth year on staff. I first began as the oldest girls' counselor, working with girls aged 15-16. As of last year I was promoted to a more administrative position, Counselor In Training (C.I.T) Director. My responsibilities now include training 16 and 17 year olds to become counselors, designing cirriculum and teaching them everyday. I have much experience in designing and teaching leadership workshops for 8 to 17 years old.

I just recently returned from a seasonal position in Williams Bay, Wisconsin at Aurora University: George Williams Campus. I began to work with the OWLS (Outdoor Wisconsin Leadership Synergies) Program, that specializes teambuilding and further growth of leadership skills, by utilizing low and high ropes courses, climbing tower, and other teambuilding initiatives with 8th graders through adult and corporate levels. Needless to say it's quite a funny sight to watch a group from IBM up on the high ropes course! It was amazing to see the impact that took place when activities are linked to not only school or work, but also to general life lessons (compromise, working together, goal-setting, and planning).

Working with Teresa and Purple Crayon Factory will be an opporunity for me to learn more about the business side instead of just the play side. I am so excited to learn about what it's like to run a business in this particular field, promotion, marketing, and in general how the facilitators within the company create and deliver their powerful messages.

I look forward to meeting and working with you all. Also you should know that I am willing to do assistant work for $10 an hour, feel free to give me a call about that or anything (612) 558-9951. Thank you and have a great day!

~Ashley