Parks board shows ‘can do’ spirit

by Meg Olson

The Point Roberts parks and recreation district’s summer program is back from the brink of extinction and new program director Jamie Tkachuk is drawing up a schedule for a month’s worth of activities and outings to keep local youth interested.

However, the program almost didn’t happen at all. There was initially a question whether Tkachuk, a Delta schoolteacher, could be issued a temporary U.S. work permit in time for the program. The permit cost the district $136, parks board member Irene Waters reported at the June 5 park board meeting.

The program will start July 7 and run for four weeks on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Tkackuk and three assistants will really be offering two half-day programs, welcoming children six to nine years old in the morning and children ten and up in the afternoon. “Around 14 they stop being interested,” said parks board member Shelley Damewood, organizer of the summer program.

On Mondays and Tuesdays the program will be at the community center, offering games, crafts and other activities. Wednesdays are for field trips, and Waters said there were some new possibilities developing, such as collaborating with the yacht club to offer a day on the water. “That will definitely be something the kids will enjoy,” she said. While grant funding that had paid for Blaine school buses to take kids on field trips is no longer available, the new community van could be used in some circumstances.

Children wishing to participate in the summer program need to pre-register on June 28 at the community center between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

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