Very successful kid's summer program

This year’s summer program offered something special to local teens, who signed up in record numbers to learn kayaking and mosaic-building.

In preparation for a beefed up teen program the parks department bought one double and four single kayaks and retained local kayak guide Heidi Baxter to teach them. Fifteen local youths took a two-hour safety and rescue training class along with 14 volunteer adult paddle-leaders. They all passed and formed the Sea Otter Paddle Club which will be out on the water through August.

Baxter also donated her time to help the group create a piece of community art. The mosaic was designed, assembled and installed by the group. “They had a great time doing it and it looks great,” said program organizer and parks board member Shelley Damewood. Both Damewood and parks board member Irene Waters emphasized the debt the community owes Baxter for putting together a memorable summer for local teens. “If everyone in the community would donate time and energy like this we could do a lot,” Waters said.