Bailey “Sage” Baldwin is a Direct Support Professional (DSP) at Rainbows United for Camp Woodchuck. “I worked at Wichita South High School with students,” said Sage. “This upcoming year will be my seventh year. I was a para for six years; in my seventh year I will be teaching there. I just got my bachelors degree. Another para I worked with at Wichita South High School, who happened to work at Rainbows year round boasted about how wonderful it was, how much she loved it, and how much fun it was, so I decided to take a chance.”
Sage has two degrees in Education and is working on getting her Masters degree in Special Education at Fort Hays State University. “I have been a Direct Support Professional for two years. My favorite part of being a DSP are all of the field trips, the different ways I get to interact with other people in the community, and the different experiences we get to have with the kids,” said Sage.
Sage likes the choir trips that the kids get to go do for all of the sponsors. “There are so many people taking pictures and smiling. Other people are shedding tears watching their kids have fun and be themselves. That has been really special.”
“It is really special getting to see the kids make memories and seeing them interact with others in the community,” Sage said. She has been working at Rainbows for two years, and started last summer as a DSP at Camp Woodchuck. “ Seeing all of the kids reach their milestones and how much they grow, even within the eight weeks of the summer program, how much more independent they can become, and all of the skills that they have developed and fine tune, it is just exciting to watch them summer after summer.”
In Sage’s classroom, she doesn’t have any workdays that are normal. “Every day is different; it is never the same.” said Sage. It is always something unique. The kids keep everyone on their toes and they are always making memories.” Sage’s favorite memory of being with the kids was the shaving cream fight last summer. “I missed the shaving cream fight this summer because I was sick,” Sage said. “I also liked getting shaving cream all over Tiffany Graf, the Family Support Services Coordinator.”
“Sage is an outstanding person; we really enjoy having her here at Rainbows,” said Tiffany. “My favorite memory with her is last year at the Talent Show. Sage’s camper loves to spin really fast to music, and she got him spinning. Sage and her co-worker, Marissa both got very excited about it, and all three of us were crying in joy.”
Sage has two dogs, Auto and Kade that she loves to spend time with. “My partner and I are currently expecting our first child together,” said Sage. “There has been a lot of baby planning to get done. I am trying to figure all of this new stuff out.”
Written by Megan Bailey, Volunteer Writer
