Photo By Jhon Parsons | Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division Technical Director Jeffrey Koe...... read more read more
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Television actor Michael J. Fox, stricken with Parkinson’s disease, once said that “Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.”
In the spirit of those words and in support of the command’s emphasis on work-life balance, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD) hosted a Bring Your Kids to Work Day on July 25.
The family-friendly event was the first of its kind in several years and attracted nearly 300 attendees.
According to Monica James, community relations liaison, 110 employees attended the occasion along with 177 children. The children ranged in age from 7 to 17, and James said the goal was inspiration.
“The purpose of this event is to allow employees to share their work with their children — to inspire them and hopefully create a desire to work here,” James said. “After participating in this event, they should have a better idea of where their parents go each day and the important work they do.”
Before his opening remarks to parents and children, Technical Director Jeffrey Koe said that the event was a demonstration of why work-life balance is important.
“Work-life balance is a big part of NSWC PHD and what we believe in as an organization,” Koe said. “I think it’s great for the kids to see where their parents work and thrive. As a parent myself, I also believe that we share the responsibility of creating an environment and showing a world to our children where they can one day also thrive.”
Fun-filled activities
After Koe’s greeting, the sun was shining bright and pop music echoed throughout the command’s central park.
The wide-eyed kids and teens participated in a variety of fun activities, from being decorated with water-based tattoos to face painting, candy giveaways and bean-bag tossing.
Younger children were busy coloring sidewalks with multicolor chalk creations while others colored a table-length coloring sheet featuring various sea creatures and Navy ships.
One of the most popular activities was face painting. Crystal Lightsey, administration officer at NSWC PHD and volunteer face painter, was busy most of the day but said she didn’t mind.
“It’s a great way to spend my workday helping kids smile,” Lightsey said.
But the fun didn’t stop there.
The kids also visited their parents’ workstations and hopped on a bus for tours of several facilities.
The on-site Fathomwerx Innovation Lab offered science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) activities with Ramon Flores, STEM coordinator at the command, and his intern team. The youngsters also toured the Mission Package Support Facility and the Underway Replenishment (UNREP) Test Site, where they had an opportunity to operate cargo rigs and see how materials are delivered between ships.
After the tours, parents and kids feasted on a pizza lunch and shared the day’s adventures.
Tour reflections
Program Analyst Mario Orellana brought his daughter, Michelle, and said it was helpful that his daughter had the opportunity to see his workplace.
“This event has helped give my daughter a better idea of how I support the Navy and the country and instills a sense of patriotism,” he said. “And the command is fostering the activities of a family and the importance of unity, which helps to bring us all together.”
Michelle said she had no clue what her father did.
“To be honest, I never really knew what my dad did, and it’s nice to know what he does and what his workplace is like,” she said. “I like it so far and I can’t wait for him to tell me more about it.”
For Isabel Soria, a program analyst, showing her son, Omar, why her job is relevant was a motivating factor.
“I wanted my son to get a better understanding of what my work environment is like and I want him to understand that I’m part of something very important,” Soria said.
Omar said that he also saw something else.
“I really thought it was a pretty cool work environment and it pretty much is,” he said.
Customer Advocate Marcos Gonzalez brought his daughter, Diana, and son, Gabriel, to the event.
Diana said that she sees a career opportunity with the Navy.
“I think that it’s important to know where my dad works and since I’m thinking about the Navy as a career option, it’s good to see how this can be an option for me when I get older,” she said.
Gonzalez’s son, Gabriel, said he liked learning how the command operates and the UNREP tour.
“I enjoyed the UNREP tour,” he said. “I liked seeing the demonstration of how the ships are connected together and how they send things between them and how that works.”
Training for the future
Department Officer Cmdr. Warren Bong brought his two young sons, Shane and Evan. Bong said learning more about the command was “eye-opening for my kids.”
Bong sees NSWC PHD as a training ground for the future.
“We’re mostly a STEM-focused command, so this is an opportunity to train and educate the next generation on everything STEM related,” Bong said. “My boys have always been interested in engineering, Legos and technology, but for some children, this might be new to them and could inspire them to pursue it further.”
| Date Taken: | 08.02.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 08.05.2024 15:13 |
| Story ID: | 477701 |
| Location: | PORT HUENEME, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 250 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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