By Mary Moffat
Cornerstone Family and Youth coordinator, Mackenzie Valentine, has been working with CFY as the summer camp coordinator since 2017 and then moved to program assistant in the fall, but when Jenn Sedor moved on to the Sustainability Project, Valentine was chosen as her replacement. CFY runs a variety of programs aimed at the family unit such as the Drop in and Playgroup operating Tuesday and Wednesdays from 10 am – noon from September until the end of May. Hosting between 6 – 30 children, with an average of 15 children daily, it offers parents and children one hour of joint activities, followed by a parent coffee hour while the children have a staff supervised time of snacks, crafts and stories. Speakers are scheduled for the parent hour and cover many topics of interest to growing families. During the summer, the time changes to Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10-11 a.m. with crafts and stories, where parents stay and participate.
Summer Drop In & Playwill be held from the first Monday in July until the end of August for kids ages 5 – 12, Monday to Friday from 12:45 until 4:15. Dependent on funding, a summer student will be hired to assist Valentine with library and museum visits and the ever-popular trips to the pool. Any volunteers aged 16 and over are also welcome to take part in supervising kids at the pool, in order to meet pool supervisory regulations. The majority of programming will be held at the elementary school and includes crafts, gym activities, with snacks provided and weekly themes to engage the children. Valentine is thankful for the members of her Girls Group who are stepping up and volunteering with other programming.
After School Little Chefsprogram allows children to prepare and eat a meal together, and of course with pizza and parfaits, the children are loving every minute.
After school Gardeningwill begin in June, and participants will be planting flowers and veggies in the Small Lot of Hope at the elementary school. Summer Kids Camp will takeover the responsibility for the gardens through the summer and food grown will be used for snack.
Baby Boxesare in stock for expecting mom and moms with a child under one. The boxes contain books, stuffed animals, pamphlets and info, and a mattress inside for baby to nap on.
June 10 CFY and Regional Kids First will be hosting a Welcome Baby Eventfor first time parents only from 10 – 12 am at the Library. Registration is required and the event will include stations including Mocktails, Watch Me Grow, Handle with Care, Time for You, Baby Signs, Rhyme Time & Magical Moments.
A Car Seat Clinicwill be held on June 14 from 10 – noon at the Library along with Regional Kids First, to help ensure car seats are safe, secure and fit your child correctly.
