Meet the Crew: Morgan Manning, staff.

"As a product of the 90s and a childhood that lasted into the early 2000s, with three sisters who were very active in sports, I spent a lot of time outdoors," said Morgan Manning of growing up in Sayler Park, "the literal furthest west neighborhood in Cincinnati. "Once our homework was completed, we were outside until it started to get dark or until my mom called for us from the back porch to come home. (You could hear her within a one-mile radius in all directions just from her standing on a three-by-five slab of concrete)."

All these years later, Morgan enjoys sharing her love of the outdoors with today's city teens as an Adventure Crew advisor during the school year and an outdoor specialist working camps during the summer. This will be her third year in the latter role.

"I am looking forward to taking on a more challenging role this summer with a little more independence in overseeing camps -- with (Program Manager) Emma’s help, of course!" she said. "But I am also excited to work more closely with other staff members and volunteers."'

Most of Morgan's work experience, dating back to her teen years, has centered on children and teaching.

Her very first job was serving as a Cincinnati Recreation Commission (CRC) Lifeguard; she eventually became a pool manager there. She also worked as a CRC recreation specialist, assisting with the afterschool program and building sports programs. 

Through that role, she first learned about Adventure Crew and became an advisor for Sayler Park School. "Nine years later, I haven’t looked back," she said.

"I love that the Adventure Crew organization works tirelessly to create an inclusive, equitable and fun environment for our city teens to reconnect with the outdoors," Morgan said. "They provide so many opportunities for students to participate all year long. The Adventure Crew community is one of the best there is, hands-down. I don’t know of any other organization that takes the steps this amazing team takes to get these students involved, and just to be part of that community has been phenomenal."

Since graduating from Thomas More University in 2018, Morgan has worked as a paraprofessional with preschool-aged children at Cincinnati Public Schools and continued to serve as an Adventure Crew advisor for for Sayler Park Middle and High School. She loves having the chance to build relationships with older students, something she doesn't typically get to do at school.

"My favorite memories are always when my students make friends with students from other schools that they typically wouldn’t interact with; I’ve seen that a lot over the last few years," she said. "And with cell phones now, it’s easier for students to connect and create these lasting relationships."

She also likes seeing how welcoming Crew teens and adults are to first-time adventurers.

"I enjoy the interactions, especially when a student may be facing a tough obstacle and to hear encouragement; it makes my heart melt," she said. "The world needs more of that." 

When she's not working at CPS (where she has done everything from coaching elementary T-ball, middle school volleyball and junior high basketball to helping with afternoon enrichment at Homework Club), Morgan also slings pizzas during summer events for LaRosa’s Events Team at Great American Ball Park, TQL Stadium, MegaCorp Pavillion and local church festivals.

In her free time, she loves just about any outdoor activity involving water. 

"I just enjoy being out on the water because it brings me a sense of calm and allows me to connect with nature," she said. "And as we approach the summer months, what's a better way to cool off after a stressful day than with submerging yourself in the pool? 

Until she wins the lottery and moves to Norris Lake, she lives in Highland Heights with her husband, their two children (Olivia, 11, and Maverick, 3) and their Australian cattle dog mix pup.

Thanks for being part of our Crew, Morgan!