10/03/2005 Park Board Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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4 TLesdey, July 19, 2005 •■JNff or+f ss ;chlavin Family • Iiropractic • 81 Main St. nterville, MN 1-653-6699 then reason to loose ward to Tuetaiaysl Gress Summer youth program fills Lino Lakes park by Amy Hufford Press intern They look like they're hav- ing fun. But that's not the main rea- son they're here. They're actually stimulat- ing their young. impression- able minds and getting some good physical activity OK. they're probably hav- ing a blast while they're doing it, too. The Lino Lakes Pants and Recreation Department sum- mer playground program is in full swing. The playground program consists of five playgrounds, seven sessions (five afternoon and two morning) and four or )wn Your Own! Centerviir 0ffi -ce Park �,c he scde ri!i,c/ , ndos we+ r Fm.mung {c,ul chic' n. Imcst nr Rent ,nmi=ah!c Interns nd dcadcmn floor, s ills • In Root Radiant heat • Quick ,ccess 10 35E • 4, Sq. Fr per side • L'on t need 2,400 Sq. Ft? l' -r I._00 and rent out 1 ,200 • Built by Sodom iuwnhows. LLC FOR APPITION.AL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: JASON MONTGOMERY THE MONTGOMERY GROUP RE/MAX ASSOCIATES PLC.'S 55j -7$9 -2331 five adult or teenage leaders per session. Each playground has a maximum capacity of 50 children, and according to Sarah Bjornberg, playground supervisor and arts and events specialist, almost all the sessions are fltll. "The program has gotten really popular in the last three years," she said. The kids spend their days playing group games like doc- tor ball (a variation of dodge - ball), capture the flag and musical hoops (like musical chairs, only instead of sitting down the children run to put their feet into hula hoops). "We encourage exercise and physical activity" said Bjornberg. It also "gets the kids think- ing," she said. What the little tykes don't realize when they're racing toward the fin- isti line in the Mt Fbx gazna 15 that by learning a new set of rules and putting them into practice, they're exercising their brains, too. There also are a variety of specialists who come in to play with the children. This year, Wargo Nature Center brought a snake and Mall of America's Underwater Adventures brought turtles (perhaps not as exciting as last year's baby sharks, but Bjornberg says the kids loved it). Other visitors included a police car, a fire truck and an ambulance. The program has a day- care-but-not-really-day-care atmosphere. "Kids can come and go as they please," said Bjornberg. But often parents use the program as a baby sit- ter so they can get some free time, dropping their kids off to go shopping, exercise or go to work. Each week is a special theme, such as "jungle safari" or "dynamic detectives." Bjornberg visits each site every day, but once a week she does a special craft with the kids, usually tailored to the week's theme. July 5 through 8 was "sci- ence week." Bjornberg arrived at Behm's Park in Lino Lakes, where she was a- leader for several years. The - Plwfo• by Pnul Dols Melissa Munsch shows Mlchaele and Joshua Hayes and Ben Jones how to make potato head characters that grow a grassy head of hair during a Lino Lakes Parks and Recreation craft session. kids, seeing her car pull up. started to squeal, "Sarah's here! Sarah's here!" The day's craft is a potato head planter. Bjornberg directs the kids as they stuff sawdust and seeds into nylons and use glue, felt and googly eyes to create silly faces. "Like this ?" the kids ask Bjornberg, proudly display- ing their potato heads. "Does this look like a nose? "That looks excellent!" she says back excitedly, explain- ing that if they soak their potato head in water for two minutes and then put it in the sunshine, the seeds will sprout and look like hair (third( "Chia Pet "). "I wanted them to know why we used the sawdust — to soak up the water — and to know that it needs sun and water to grow," said Bjornberg of the project. She also spoke with them about science ( "What do scientists study? Do they study trees? Flowers ? ") before the craft began. For some children, said onsumers finding bargain in Trail Blazer Chevrolet's all new Trail Blazer a steal at $21,995 Jay $21,995 buys you pre -owned 2005 rolet Trail Blazer LS at Wally McCarthy's An example of one of the creations shows it's sprouting head of hair. Bjornberg, "this is the only structure they get all summer long. A lot of kids probably sit in front of the TV all day This is a program where there's no TV no video games and no movies." Even though the cost for the program has gone up in the past few years, it remains relatively inexpensive. said Bjornberg, at $60 for Lino Lakes residents, $85 for others and a per -family maximum of 8120 for the afternoon pro- gram. (the morning sessions are slightly cheaper). As of next year there will be online registration. It's hard work to run the program, said Bjornberg, but it's worth it for the kids as well as the leaders. "If it's a rain day, (the kids) are upset," she said. "They get to meet new people from their own neighborhood and from other neighborhoods, they get For some children, said Sarah Bjornberg, playground supervisor and arts and events specialist "this is the only structure they get all summer long. A lot of kids probably sit in front of the TV all day.This is a program where there's no TV, no video games and no movies." to learn new games and crafts, and a lot of the kids get really attached to their lead- ers." And for Bjornberg and the other leaders, there's a sense of satisfaction out of a good day's work. "It's so reward- ing," she said. "I feel awesome when I go home and know that I had 40 kids who didn't just sit in front of their TV and do nothing ... but did something valuable." To learn more about the program, call 651-982-2440 or visit ci.lino-lakes.mn.us. Amy Hufford can be reached at 651- 407 -1200 or ppnews @sherbtel. net. STUDENT NEWS