Council hears of growth, success of Summer Camp program
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula City Council
Published: August 20, 2008
The recognition of Parks and Recreation Month offered an opportunity for the City Council to be updated on a popular summer program for Santa Paula children.
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula Times
The recognition of Parks and Recreation Month offered an opportunity for the City Council to be updated on a popular summer program for Santa Paula children. Vice Mayor Ralph Fernandez presented community Services Supervisor Ed Mount with the proclamation recognizing Parks and Recreation Month at the July 28 Council meeting.
“Ed is the guy who does all the work while Brian (Yanez, department director) is out having all the fun,” joked City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz.
Communities are created “through people, parks and programs,” noted Fernandez. Such recreational services and programs “enhance the desirability” of a community on all levels, strengthen same, and help children to “grow into healthy adults,” in turn reducing healthcare costs. Facilitating community and reducing crime are also strong byproducts of parks and recreation programs, available to all ages of residents.
Fernandez said social, physical, mental and economic benefits are derived from strong programs and offerings that fall under the recreational heading. And, he noted, “Parks and recreation are a big part of our community and everyone should enjoy what goes and what your department offers.”
July, said Mount, is an especially busy month, with the Community Services Department’s high-profile role in the annual Kiwanis Citrus Festival and the department’s own varied programs that must be maintained. “One dear to my heart is to see the pleasure children are receiving through the Summer Camp program... we started with one site and 10 to 15 kids, and now there are two sites” offering “a variety of activities that keep the children busy during the summer months.”
Activities include competitive sports, where “The winner of each of the games gets a big trophy to walk home with” to sport pride, where participants craft papier-mâché soccer heads to wear on the walk to the park accompanied by music. Mount said field trips include all the children for a variety of outings, both far and near, such as the Santa Paula California Oil Museum and the high school swimming pool.
“The only way we are able to offer this program is through the community” support of businesses, individuals and groups, who Mount said “provide us with very generous donations.” And, he noted, a positive sidebar is the involvement of 9th and 10th grade students who volunteer to help with the program and later become department recreation leaders.
“You really are the heart and soul of that summer program,” Councilman John Procter told Mount. “You do an incredible job... you have been such a great part of this program and the way it’s grown. There’s a little bit of kid in you that translates well.”
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