| By Lori
Gooch For over a decade, Akeley area children have benefited from the fun activities and nurturing interaction that the Headwaters Intervention S.A.F.E. (Safe and Fun Environment) Parks program provides. Site supervisor Andrea Thelin works with a network of community volunteers and resources to ensure that children who attend are kept safe and involved in positive activities. “Every day is a new adventure,” said volunteer Zita Zippol, who was one of Thelin’s first children in the program and is now an adult volunteer for it. Sixth grader Gavin Hitchcock and his third grade brother Sam, attend the program from beginning to end during the weeks they are in Akeley. “We come from the start to the very end every day because there is so much to do,” said Gavin. “We want to hang out with our friends to swim and do crafts.” “We started out with about 14 children our first day this week,” said Thelin. “Then jumped up to over 40 the next day.” An average attendance of 28 children per day is anticipated with volunteers and plans flexible to accomidate the numbers that vary daily and hourly. “I worry about funding for future years.” said Thelin. “The Akeley community has been great at donations of food, supplies and things to meet our needs, but grants for programs like this are being cut.” The program meets at the picnic shelter in the Akeley City Park except for days where the weather reports look stormy or too hot, then the program moves to the Eastern Hubbard County Fire Department in Akeley. If the weather changes after the day has started, then S.A.F.E. is forced to shut down and children are sent home because no transportation is available to move mid-day to the fire hall. Brandy Vredenburg of rural Akeley brings her daughter Jayden to the program. “I just love the parks program because it is safe, fun, affordable and my daughter has so much fun being here every day,” said Vredenburg, who also volunteers one day each week as a helper with the program. A favorite program helper is Akeley reserve officer Travis Carlson, who stops by to help as a beach supervisor four days per week. “I love Travis, he is so funny and he makes us laugh,” said Jayden. “He really cares about us and shares good ideas.” added participant Autumn Vogel. Thelin encourages everyone to bring their children by the Akeley City Park Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to share in the program, which runs through August 22. “Our numbers are smaller than other similar programs, but our kids stay longer hours because we offer so many different things to keep them happy.” |