By Clare Aman

If you venture downstairs to the lower level of the Lower School’s Luck Hall in the afternoons, you will find a bustling and vibrant space, filled with kids doing a variety of different activities, such as art, building with LEGOs, playing on a Nintendo Switch, and more. Cougar Quest, Collegiate’s after-school program, provides a special sense of community for students within the greater Collegiate world.

Cougar Quest is open to Collegiate students and runs every afternoon from the end of the Lower School day at 3:10 pm until 6:00 pm. Depending on their Grade, students there have different opportunities to learn and grow. Kinder Quest is specifically for children in Junior Kindergarten (JK) at Collegiate. This is located in Nunnally Hall, separate from the K-4th grade students. According to Collegiate’s website: “This program is located in an area of the School designed for our smallest Cougars, where creative and meaningful play is nurtured.” JK students have access to their own playground as well, which is fit to suit younger children and maintain a safe environment for them to play. 

Cougar Quest space in Luck Hall. Photo credit: Clare Aman.

The “original” Cougar Quest is for Kindergarten through 4th Grade students in Luck Hall’s lower level. The area has massive windows that face out towards one of Collegiate’s three playgrounds, Fort Cougar. Children use their time at Quest to complete their homework, and once they have finished they can choose to enjoy any of the activities that Quest has to offer. These include air hockey, foosball, Pop-A-Shot, iPads, board games, and a creation station that houses all of the art supplies you could imagine. Quest also provides kids with hundreds of toys, like dolls, trucks, and a cooking area complete with fake food items. They have access to a basketball hoop and turf area outside, along with equipment like balls, frisbees, in-line roller skates, and more. 

Middle Quest is for Grades 5 through 8. Since many 7th and 8th Graders choose to play Cub sports in the afternoons, the majority of students who participate are in 5th and 6th Grade. Like the Lower Schoolers, students have a study hall for the first hour of Quest and then are set free to play. Some options include reading, playing games inside, or just relaxing. They can also play on the Middle School blacktop, which includes basketball and a Gaga Ball pit. 

Fort Cougar. Photo credit: Clare Aman.

Along with the three age groups of Cougar Quest, there is Activity Quest. This program gives students in the Lower and Middle Schools the chance to do sports and other activities through Collegiate. These can either be located on campus, or kids will be bused to an off-campus location. The activities are run by teachers or specialists from the Richmond area. The Collegiate website states: “Whether it’s yoga, swimming, computer programming, dance or sports, Activity Quest has something for everyone.” Between all of these options, Collegiate students have many choices for after-school activities, but more importantly, opportunities to make connections within their school community.

I interviewed Neil Etheridge, Director of Quest Programs, to learn more about Cougar Quest. In 2006, Etheridge started working part-time at Collegiate as a counselor, since his mother worked at the school. In 2008, he began working full-time after graduating from James Madison University. After working as a counselor, he became Associate Director of After School Programs before moving into his current role. He described his job as “a natural fit” and said, “I never really saw myself just sitting in an office.” 

In his job, Etheridge said his primary responsibility is, “trying to put together the very best team to help run all of our programs.” He stressed the importance of providing his staff, the children, and the parents the support that they need. With a total of 275 children registered for Cougar Quest, it is crucial that every staff member is prepared to handle stressful situations. Etheridge enjoys the time he gets to spend with the kids and has discovered a passion for his work. Quest sharpens student skills that the school day may not fully cover, such as keeping track of all of their clothes, being a compassionate friend, and taking care of their supplies. 

Director of Quest Programs Neil Etheridge. Photo courtesy of Collegiate School.

Etheridge explained how the main goal of Quest is to provide a safe space for students to learn and have fun. Though they don’t have an official mission statement, the kids came up with something that embodies the nature of Cougar Quest perfectly. A sign on the wall reads, “All day Quest day here we come! All day Quest day let’s have fun!” 

The community that Cougar Quest creates reaches even beyond Middle School. Many Collegiate Upper School students, including myself, work as counselors at Quest. This past summer, I had the privilege to be a counselor at Summer Quest, also led by Etheridge, which provides opportunities for over 200 different children’s summer day camps open to the public. I got to participate in several different camps, including basketball, volleyball, and cooking, where I experienced the community of Quest firsthand. I created tight bonds with my campers and coworkers, and it was an unforgettable experience. 

Throughout Lower and Middle School, I went to Quest every once in a while when my parents couldn’t pick me up until later in the day. I remember sitting on the comfortable couches playing video games, reading books, and creating with Perler Beads. It was a full-circle moment for me to become a counselor, because I got to witness students having the same positive experiences that I had. The community is so close-knit, and I know I can reach out to many people at Cougar Quest who would be happy to help me with anything I need. Etheridge emphasized how Quest kids themselves often become counselors, which shows how Cougar Quest is always there for its students.

Featured image courtesy of Collegiate School.