Written by Kate Daly
“Delicious,” Kail exclaimed with a smacking lip after biting into what he called a “baby apple” he picked from a tree growing in Bonnie’s Garden at the Wood River Community YMCA.
Cale is one of dozens of elementary school students enrolled in after-school kids club programs at five locations in Blaine County, including Haley Elementary School, Bellevue Elementary School, Alturas Elementary School and Carey Elementary School.
“Yuck!” Mr. Harland saw a bug in his apple, so he dropped the apple and shouted. Remy, the third child, decided not to pick apples at all.
Each day at Ketchum Kids Club ends with a story time. Photo: Araceli Saldana/YMCA
“I don’t like apples,” he declared, even as he diligently filled out a worksheet labeling the parts of an apple.
Literacy is often built into afternoon sessions, and each day ends with children coming together to read books to each other.
Wood River Community YMCA CEO Jason Shearer says activities like this are worthwhile.
“We want to be a place where kids can spend time after school and during the summer, when they finish their daily routine and before their parents get off work. This is a time when kids are most vulnerable. , it’s a great opportunity for kids who need extra support or a boost,” he said.
A young man inspects a half-eaten apple. Photo: Kate Daly
“Primary school is the most influential period,” he added. “Kids who read at grade level at the end of elementary school are significantly more likely to graduate from high school.”
There is a fee for the kids club, but there are scholarships available.
Shearer said the Y relies on gifts to support its annual spending of more than $1.3 million on education programs. He praises donors for “taking care of this community.”
This time of year, the Y is busy fulfilling its mission of strengthening the community by providing learning opportunities for all ages.
Parents attend night classes weekly at Wood River High School. Provided by: YMCA
On Wednesday mornings, the Wood River parent group meets at 10 a.m. at the Y in Ketchum. The free networking support group is open to parents of children ages 0-5. This is led by a Child Watch Coordinator who oversees the on-site babysitting services available to members when they use the Y.
Monday night is for parents of high school students who will gather at Wood River High School in Hailey from 6 to 7:30 p.m. to participate in the Parent Association for Quality Education program. In partnership with the Blaine County School District, PIQE features a national curriculum implemented in both English and Spanish. The goal is to help parents navigate high school, including preparing students for college.
Anna Nielsen, the Y’s deputy executive director of youth development and education, said some of the materials focus on teens’ social and emotional development, but the session is free to apply for federal students. said in detail how to fill out the FAFSA form. assistance.
Hundreds of families have already visited PIQE so far, and some are returning just to attend the resource fair, which will be held on November 11th this year. There, they will hear from Wood River High School Principal Julia Graft and representatives from local nonprofit organizations, including: Far + Wise, Crisis Hotline, Hunger Coalition.
Bee boxes at Bonnie’s Garden teach children about pollinators. Photo: Kate Daly
“We know that we can create a safety net around children for families,” Shearer said. “We want to catch people before they fall, and get them back on track if they do. It’s important for kids to feel like they have options.”
Thanks to Haley’s partnership with The Space, 12 middle school students are exploring the Y each week this fall. For eight Wednesdays, they ride together on a bus to the Y, where they are introduced to the swimming pool, rock-climbing wall, and gym. They also take coding classes and harvest honey from bee boxes on campus.
The Y offers a free membership for one year to encourage them to come back on their own.
The Y Apprenticeship program is for people ages 16 to 24 who are interested in early childhood education, environmental education, and health education. This allows apprentices to receive a paycheck while they complete 144 hours of on-the-job training to earn a certificate from the Idaho Department of Labor.
In addition to work, there is a lot of play happening at the Y. Two free events are scheduled: a bonsai workshop for adults on Oct. 18 at 5:30 p.m. and a pumpkin carving and painting party for families on Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. .
