Summer Rec Provides Kids with Summer Fun

DAYTON – While kids rejoice as the final bell rings to end the school year each June, a new question faces those kids and their parents: "What do I do now?" In a small town like Dayton, there is not a plethora of opportunities for children to pass the time during the three-month break from school.

Blue Mountain Counseling is trying to provide an answer to that question. Their "Summer Rec" program, as it is known in the community, is a six-week program that gives kids a fun and safe place to make new friends and complete fun activities, all while learning life skills.

"This year is a little more schoolish," said lead counselor Anita Jackson. "It's still fun for the kids, but it teaches them personal and social boundaries as well as life skills. We hope to give kids a head start. The programs that we put on for the kids are state-mandated and evidence-based. They work. We still have arts and crafts and stuff like that. They still get to make playdoh and other art projects," added Jackson.

The recreational program is designed to benefit kids in many ways. "We have quite a few kids, and they make friends here. When they come into this, what we're teaching them isn't how to be adults. We're trying to help them be more mature and self-aware," commented Jackson.

The program has around 60 to 70 kids enrolled this year so far, and started on June 20. While they follow a basic daily routine, what they do from day to day changes regularly.

"Yes, we have a daily routine. Laura (Tolman, the one in charge of the program) went to great lengths to make sure everyone knows where they need to be. Each day has its own routine, while some events (like the daily swimming pool visit) stay the same each day," explained Jackson.

"We have alternate games that the kids can play if they want to as well. No one is forced to do any of the events, they are always allowed to say no if they don't want to do something."

The program also benefitted from a donation of 10 new microscopes to carry out science experiments.

Kids are served breakfast and lunch every day by the summer lunch program that is run through the Dayton Elementary School cafeteria. The program provides free breakfast and lunch meals to the kids of the program, and all people 18 and under are welcome to come during the meal times.

Breakfast is served from 7:30 a.m. until 8: 15 a.m., and lunch is available from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The free meals will be served weekdays through July 29, except for July 4.

Summer Rec starts the day at 7:30 a.m. each weekday, and goes until 5 p.m., when parents pick up their little ones. Parents can also arrange to pick up their kids earlier if need be.

There are ten counselors that make up the staff, being led by Jackson and assistant lead counselor Jacob Weeden. The program's last day is July 29.