Emily Lubenow

FAIRMONT — Several afternoons a week, you can find Emily Lubenow at different parks in Fairmont. Lubenow is the Parks Playground Coordinator for Fairmont CER.

Lubenow, daughter of Randy and Brenda, is a 2018 graduate of Fairmont High School. Last year, she did a summer internship with CER through the Minnesota Valley Action Council. MVAC is a program that provides summer internships to college students that grew up in the area, in hopes of enticing them to return after graduating.

“I was asked to come back this year so I applied and got the job,” Lubenow explained.

She started at the end of May and works Monday through Friday. Lubenow is at the park with children three days a week. On Tuesdays, they go to Gomsrud Park, Wednesdays to Veteran’s Park and on Thursdays, they go to Sylvania Park.

“Each day we do an activity, a craft, some games and have a snack. They all revolve around what theme of the week it is,” Lubenow explained.

She picked 10 themes at the start of the 10-week program, including carnival, Hawaiian, camping and outer space. Aside from playing, Lubenow also makes sure they do some educational activities as well.

“On Mondays, we have Maker Space Monday, where we do STEM activities. We get their brains thinking and use some imagination,” Lubenow said.

Lubenow said each day she has anywhere from 10 to 15 children, grades kindergarten through seventh, and a lot of them attend consistently. The program is free through a partnership with the city of Fairmont.

Last year, because of COVID, the program still took place, but there was no playing at the park. Instead, Lubenow put together kits each week that held different games and activities. Parents would then come each Monday and pick them up.

“I did at least 30-40 bags each week,” Lubenow said.

Lubenow shared why she thinks the program is important.

“It’s a great way for kids to get out of the house and make interactions with new friends. With Covid, they didn’t get a lot of chances to meet a lot of other kids besides the ones in their own class,” she pointed out.

She also added that it gives parents a bit of free time to get done what they need to.

Lubenow doesn’t just work with the students but also assists the CER office staff by answering phones and questions and helping people register for classes. For the last month, she also helped pack and move everything from CER’s previous office inside the elementary school to the SMEC building.

CER director, Roni Dauer, shared her appreciation for Lubenow’s work.

“Emily is a gifted person. She’s excellent with kids. She keeps the kids engaged. She’s calm and well-organized,” said Dauer.

“It’s something I love helping with. I love seeing the kids, they get so excited over the simplest things,” Lubenow said.

Lubenow’s works as the playground coordinator will also prove valuable to her in the future. This year, she will be a senior at MSU, where she’s studying elementary education. She will begin her student teaching in the fall and graduate in the spring.

“I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. I hope to come back to Fairmont someday and teach. One of my biggest dreams would be to come back here,” Lubenow said.