School bus after school bus arrived, filling the parking lot. As the kindergarteners arrived on the campus and stepped off the school bus, they were greeted by cheerleaders, mascots and volunteers from the community. KinderCaminata is an impactful event that serves as a career fair for kindergarten students and encourages them to seek higher education.
More than a 1000 kindergarteners were roaming the parking lot of Santa Ana College, overjoyed and thrilled to learn about career pathways, play games and watch performances. Each classroom was assigned to a volunteer who was in charge of walking them around the campus. Taking place on the campus of Santa Ana College, KinderCaminata is a n annual event to celebrate Cesar Chavez and to inspire the young minds of kindergartners. Elementary schools from all over the SAUSD district were invited to participate in the event. Representatives from wide ranges of career pathways set up stations with academic activities for kindergarteners to engage in and learn fun facts about the occupation.
Senior Kimberly Tovar volunteered at the KinderCaminata event. She shares her experience volunteering, as it was her first year participating in KinderCaminata.
“We first started the KinderCaminata by lining up between the Village and I Building to welcome all the students. We chaperoned the students through the various career stations, where they participated in hands-on activities. For example, at the firefighter station, they had the opportunity to help put out a fire,” Tovar said.
Firefighters were one of the many career occupations present, along with police officers, nurses, and veterinarians. Having a wide range of representation for job occupations allowed kindergartners to get a glimpse of future career pathways. The faces of the students changed from nervousness to lighting up with excitement, as the world opened up to them the opportunities to pursue higher education.
Tovar explains the significance of KinderCaminata, as well as its impact on kindergarteners.
“KinderCaminata has a huge impact on these young minds because by introducing them to professionals, they are motivated to pursue their dreams and higher education to achieve anything. It allows them to know what they can become in the future and sparks an interest for their potential careers,” Tovar said
Once the volunteers walked around the stations and booths, they lined up for the Cesar Chavez March and together walked around the campus shouting “Si, se puede!” It was fascinating to hear the shouts of little voices saying encouraging words.
“The KinderCaminata is a significant event because it opens students’ minds by introducing them to higher education and possible career opportunities. This event shows them that anything they dream of is possible and chants ‘Sí, se puede!’ to encourage them and help them believe in themselves,” Tovar said.
KinderCaminata is a learning activity for students and allows them to be inspired and find their passion in life.
Senior Emily Parra-Diaz has also expressed interest in KinderCaminata and the benefits for younger individuals.
“Although I believe younger me would have not liked the KinderCaminata, I believe the event is overall beneficial for younger kids. I believe in its significance because it helps younger students understand that education and knowledge is power. Even if the overall experience they get out of KinderCaminata is something as simple as bubbles, they get a hint at understanding how there is science behind it,” Parra-Diaz said.
KinderCaminata has a long term effect on the students and allows them to discover interests in all different fields of work.
“The impacts I believe KinderCaminata has on these young minds are letting them know that there is so much depth to things we overlook in everyday life. Things as simple as a word come with its own history, or being able to see older students gives them that inspiration to reach high school and higher education,” Parra-Diaz said.
It is highly recommended for people to volunteer for KinderCaminata the following year, as they are making an impact on young minds. It gives kindergarten students a glimpse into the future and all the potential career opportunities they can accomplish with dedication and hard work.
“I definitely recommend classmates to participate in this event because it allows you to interact with the students and make a big impact on their lives by inspiring them to dream big. You also serve as an example of how it is possible to achieve your dreams,” Tovar said.
