Summer Youth Program Wrap-Up

Now we’ve got to say goodbye for the summer…as another successful Summer Youth Program came to an end on Friday. The 5 week program, which ran from July 5th to August 5th, provided a safe place, caring adults, effective hands-on education and opportunities for community service to 40 area youth. With funding received from a WV’s 5 Promises grant, the program provided daily activities for youth ranging in age from 6-17. In addition to Family Resource Center staff members, Lisa Weaver and Shauna Kelley, partnerships with other agencies provided 4 more adult leaders. Angela Lilly and Aaron Lopreste both served as part of the Americorps VISTA Summer Associate project and Austi Reed and Kayla Brinker were employed through Workforce Investment Board’s Summer Youth Employment Program.

McKinley Elementary School provided use of their playground for daily recreation and Mary Farnsworth, Black Diamond Girl Scout Leader, provided an activity each Tuesday during the program. Some were science activities, others were group team-building games, and all were enjoyed by the youth participants. Through an ongoing partnership with Wood Co. Schools and the State Dept. of Education, free lunch and afternoon snack was provided free of charge each day to any child attending. Lunchtime conversations centered around a “Question of the Day”, from the Strong Families Eat Together curriculum.


Summer youth participated in a variety of service projects including a neighborhood clean-up, weeding of the area around CHS, sending cards to soldiers, recycling cans, paper, plastic and drink pouches, and rolling newspapers for the Humane Society. Youth were encouraged to read this summer and each received two or more new books from our First Book partnership. We also received many books from a book drive conducted by an Energy Express site and those books were shared with youth as well. Another donation received at the beginning of the summer provided craft supplies, games and a “Rock Band” video game, a favorite this summer among both kids and adults. Some of the educational groups provided for youth included Cultural Awareness, Health and Nutrition, and a Money Management activity led by employees of United Bank. Weekly field trips provided fun, learning opportunities. Trips included mini-golfing at City Park, tours of the Parkersburg Art Center and the City Recycling Center, an all-day trip to Mountwood Park and the final trip to Adventure Station for Laser Tag. Other highlights of the summer included Karoke Day hosted by Rob Goff, and Career Day, when 6 community members came to talk about their jobs.


The last day of the program ended with a celebration of adults and youth. Appreciation was extended to VISTA members, WIB young adult employees, parents and CHS co-workers for their contributions to the successful program. A pizza lunch was shared, followed by water games on the playground, then a dessert bar enjoyed while a slide show of pictures taken during the summer was shown. Although another year of the Summer Youth Program has come to a close, the friendships and connections made will extend into the future and several new relationships between CHS and neighborhood families have been built.

Posted By: Lisa Weaver