Taylor Dowdle, human development and family studies
Story by Christian Knoll
“Human development and family studies interested me because it allows students to understand relationships among individuals, as well as how an individual develops as a person and in relationship with others through their lifespan,” said Taylor Dowdle, a human development and family studies major at Colorado State University.
This summer, Dowdle has been working closely with The Moyer Foundation in Seattle, Washington, as a Camp Erin program intern. The Moyer Foundation was created by Major League Baseball player Jamie Moyer and his wife, Karen, “to provide comfort, hope and healing to children and families affected by grief and addiction.” Likewise, Camp Erin, the umbrella term for over 48 nationwide camps, provides a place for children and teens to participate in “traditional camp activities and grief education, while receiving support from trained bereavement experts and a community of youth who are also grieving.”
This is not Dowdle’s first time being associated with Camp Erin. Her roots with The Moyer Foundation run deeper than anyone would expect, because at one point, Dowdle herself attended Camp Erin to grieve the loss of a loved one.
“After my father passed away when I was 11, I spent four summers at Camp Erin as a camper,” Dowdle said about her relationship with the foundation. “Now I am interning with the foundation and volunteering at our King County camp in Washington as a Big Buddy, a cabin counselor for the youth during the weekend, volunteering alongside the same volunteers who supported me many years ago.”
Looking to give back to the very thing that helped her process her father’s death, Dowdle not only volunteers as a camp counselor, but her work as an intern also includes providing nationwide outreach to various organizations that surround the Camp Erin locations, to inform them about the camps and find other potential campers.
“There have been times when I have called organizations and shared about this resource, and I’m soon told of how through a strike of fate they have a youth who experienced the death of a loved one only days prior to our call,” Dowdle said.
Dowdle believes this internship will place her one step closer to reaching her career goal of becoming a grief counselor, an interest that has been with her since her father’s passing and was further solidified with her internship.
“This internship has shown that there are more ways to serve youth who are grieving than simply through the relationship between a counselor and client,” Dowdle said. “Youth are provided the chance to spend time with a community in which they have the similar experience of grieving the death of a loved one.”
To find out more about Camp Erin and The Moyer Foundation visit their website.
Sara Begley, apparel and merchandising
Story by Christian Knoll
“I knew since a very young age I wanted to work in the apparel industry,” said Sara Begley, an apparel and merchandising major with a concentration in apparel design and production, part of the Department of Design and Merchandising at Colorado State University. “I chose CSU to pursue a degree in apparel design since it has such a great program for design and production.”
This summer, Begley has been working with Ibex Outdoor Clothing in White River Junction, Vermont, as a design and product development intern. Ibex places an emphasis on fabric sustainability and resource management with the goal of making “durable, evolving, active and modern” apparel. Begley, a concerned environmentalist, saw this internship as a perfect opportunity to do what she loves and do her part to advance environmental conservation.
“I became aware of how wasteful the fashion industry can be,” Begley said. “A lot of clothing never gets recycled and simply piles up as waste. However, we can change how old garments are disposed of. I want to be part of building a better industry that is safer for the environment and less toxic. I still think we can save the world.”
Begley’s work with Ibex lies mostly within the field of design. She is part of a team that creates designs of active tops (long sleeves, short sleeves and tanks) as well as curates mood boards and collages as briefs to send to graphic designers for t-shirt print art. However, her work does not end there. Begley also works on garment fitting and technical designing when Ibex gets its clothing prototypes.
“Being such a small company, there are people that cover multiple areas,” Begley said. “The design team I am a part of covers textile designs and prints, making new fabrics, design garments, technical flats and garment fit. Up until this point I have been a part of each of those areas.”
Begley is also a long-time athlete, and her love for athletics has greatly influenced her choice in apparel production. She believes her internship is great segue to a career in athletic and “athleisure” clothing production. The East Coast is in her sights too as a destination after she graduates.
“My internship has solidified the fact that I do want to work in the athletic and athleisure industry,” Begley said. “Working with the incredible people at Ibex has opened so many doors for me, and I have made so many new connections I wouldn’t have if I hadn’t taken this opportunity. I would really like to stay on the East Coast as well. It is a beautiful area, and Boston is a place I would love to call my home.”
