For the third year in a row, the Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy has brought its Summer Park Program to Centennial Park.
Every Thursday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. from July 3 to Aug. 21, the CCPL's family literacy coordinator, Elke Baechmann, will be set up in the park with a wide range of sensory games, toys and books for children aged zero to seven. At the first program day on July 3, Baechmann said she was already impressed by the turnout.
"We set up a lot of gross motor and other activities, but also some literacy components," Baechmann said. "We do have the gross motor literacy where we have the hop-scotch where they have to jump, walk or do different tasks. Reading, clapping five times, turning, jumping three times and stuff like that. We also do story time and we do have lots of sensory activities."
As in previous years, this program is completely free for parents to attend with their children so long as they're of appropriate age. Baechmann noted that older siblings are welcome so long as they engage with the program.
In addition to the regular activities, Baechmann had several children building and painting fairy houses for the Fairy Walk. Last year Baechmann explained that CCPL staff created a Fairy Walk just across the main bridge over Bridge Creek and this year they intend to expand it.
"The trail will be across the first bridge on the left-hand side. The kids are decorating fairy houses today, then we set them up and have little figurines," Baechmann said. "Everyone who goes to the park can walk through, add on and play with it, but hopefully keep it on the trail. We do have a sign we're going to put up, so it's easy to find."
One of the parents who took their children to the first program this year was Alicia Newell, a stay-at-home mom of two. Newell said since she and her family moved to the 108 Mile Ranch two years ago, she's been attending the program with her son and daughter as a way to meet people.
"I honestly think it's the best thing the community has going on in the summer, certainly for little kids. It was one of the first things that my friends told me about when I moved here," Newell said. "It's something we really look forward to each week."
Newell said she enjoys the fact that there are enough activities to keep both her children entertained while she can chat with other adults. She noted her children also enjoy interacting with the other children and being social.
"It's a good age range that comes out. You get everything from like babies to kids that are just in school," Newell remarked, before praising the organizers. "Elke and Jen are just lovely."
Baechmann noted that for the second year in a row, funding for this program has come from the Cariboo Community Enhancement Foundation, for a total of $5,340. She said that the CCPL is extremely grateful for the support, but noted they're looking for new sources of funding for next year so the foundation doesn't have to keep shouldering the cost.
"Thanks to them, we can do this program, otherwise, I would have had enough funding this year to do eight weeks, so it would have been a shorter program," Baechmann said.
