COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2019 | 7A
to Bohemia Elementary
School in January as well,
as long as staffing can be
secured.
Jackson anticipates the
expansion to find favor in
the community consider-
ing recent responses.
“The support the com-
munity has shown us has
been phenomenal,” Jack-
son said. “The adminis-
tration, the school staff,
the kids and families –
even the folks from Dutch
Bros. They’re so excited
that we’re out in Cottage
Grove, so it’s just such an
DAMIEN SHERWOOD/COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
At Harrison Elementary, the program runs from the end of school until 6 p.m. While services are currently
exclusive to Harrison, the plan is to expand the program to Bohemia Elementary in January.
YMCA
from A1
after-school
program
builds upon our 133-year
commitment to grow and
innovate in order to meet
the evolving needs in
Lane County.”
The program at Har-
rison makes use of the
school’s cafeteria, gym,
playground and project
studio for an array of ac-
tivities.
Children are treated to
fruit snacks, games, phys-
ical activities, cooking,
art projects and STEM
(Science,
Technology,
Engineering and Math)
activities. In addition, the
program offers home-
work assistance to stu-
dents who need it.
Harrison Elementary
School Principal Heidi
Brown is a fan of the new
service.
“The YMCA is about
keeping kids physical-
ly active and mentally
engaged in creative and
fun activities and I love
watching the kids do that
every day after school,”
she said. “The activities
are really well thought out
and fun for kids. They’re
loving what they’re do-
ing.”
The program runs
from the end of school
until 6 p.m. and services
are exclusive to Harrison
students due to high de-
mand.
Still, the enrichment
program has found it
challenging to attract pro-
gram staff applicants and
is not currently operating
at full capacity. Jackson
said the recent addition
of another staff member
from Eugene is raising
the enrollment to about
30 children, but while the
wait list of children grows,
the YMCA is looking for
more qualified adults.
“Somebody that has
experience in a licensed
center, certified sum-
mer camp experience or
credits in the field,” said
Jackson. “That’s primari-
ly what we’re looking for,
but we’re definitely will-
ing to hire aides.”
Qualifications for aides
could include people who
have limited to no expe-
rience, but demonstrate a
passion for working with
children.
If the YMCA can reach
its goal of three staff
members, around 40 chil-
dren may be enrolled in
the program.
Brown is hopeful the
program will find the
staffing it needs.
“I love seeing the kids
engaged in hands-on ac-
tivities after school,” said
Brown. “I think so often
young people fill their
time with screen time.”
The addition of the
program to Cottage
Grove serves a common-
ly-voiced need in the
community as well.
“There’s been a huge
void to fill – that need for
after-school care for our
working parents,” said
Brown. “Especially if they
work in Eugene.”
While the YMCA’s pres-
ence in Cottage Grove will
do its part to fill a need for
after-school care, some in
the community are eager
to see a more organized
approach to the issue.
Many of Cottage Grove’s
youth programs are run
as insular operations.
“I think what’s needed
is a very consistent infor-
mation stream and con-
sistent participation” said
Samantha Duncan, owner
of local business Health
Hub. “In a small com-
munity, it’s almost more
important than anywhere
else for people who want
a service to really commit
to utilizing it once it’s in
place.”
Health Hub won the Vi-
sion Keepers’ Community
Health Award this year
for creating fitness oppor-
tunities for people of all
ages. Duncan has includ-
ed several youth-orient-
ed classes in her business
model.
“Little Movers,” an ob-
stacle course, tumbling
and motor skills class lets
little ones aged up to four
years old practice social
integration, balance and
muscle memory.
Family Capoeira serves
ages four and up with Af-
ro-Brazilian movements
which combine elements
of dance, music and acro-
batics.
For ages three to five,
“Ants and Fireflies” teach-
es basic motor skills and
balance with rolling, cart-
wheel and handstand les-
sons.
Lastly, ages four and up
may also participate in a
tumbling and gymnastics
class for beginning to in-
termediate levels, which
includes lessons on beam
and bar mounts as well as
rolls and handsprings.
Prices for kids start at
$35 per month for the
youngest age groups and
go up to $55.
“I’d love to expand it,
but my space is limited,”
Duncan said.
Other programs for
youth in the community
do exist, such as gaming
store Delight’s own after-
school enrichment pro-
gram, Rogers Family ATA
Martial Arts programs for
beginners and South Val-
ley Athletics’ many sports
options.
However, the relative
obscurity of some of these
programs has been a bar-
rier to some and Brown
confirmed requests for
such after-school care are
all too common.
Some more respite may
be on the horizon, though,
as the YMCA’s program in
Cottage Grove does not
end with Harrison. Cur-
rent plans are to expand
amazing feeling for us.”
Brown was also opti-
mistic that YMCA pro-
grams could make lateral
movements across the
community.
“I hope that this is just
the beginning of our part-
nership with YMCA,” she
said. “I’d love to see some
summer camps in Cottage
Grove that YMCA could
run. I know that they do
some preschool options.
We’re not quite there yet,
but I know that that is a
big need in our commu-
nity.”
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