NORTH VERNON — The Jennings County Youth Foundation is offering a brand new opportunity for summertime fun for local children.
The Summer Fun Fest VIP Membership Program will offer an expanded schedule of activities for school-aged kids this summer.
JCYF staff and volunteers are still working on the complete schedule of activities, but have already decided on a few. Included on the list so far are youth cooking classes, yoga, glow-in-the-dark, Dungeons and Dragons, STEM activities, LEGO club, building classes.
"We have so much more space in our new building, so we are going to be able to offer a much wider program this summer," JCYF President Casey Ernstes said. "We are trying out a new plan that, I hope, will give an opportunity for more summer fun for more children in the community."
Summer Fun Fest activities will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 until 3 p.m. and on Friday evenings from 6 until 8 p.m. VIP members will also be able to pre-register for events.
Admission to all Summer Fun Fest activities will be free for members of the program. There will be at least 25 scheduled activities that will cost $5 each for non-VIP members. VIP members will also be able to attend a week of summer camp for only $15 instead of the $25 cost to non-members.
The cost of the VIP membership will be $75 for each child regardless of age. Partial and total scholarships will be available for families that need the assistance.
Ernstes said she plans to have the Summer Fun Fest list of activities completed by the end of the first week of May.
As a teacher at Scipio Elementary School, and the mother of four children, Ernstes is confident they have selected activities for the program that most children of varying ages will enjoy.
Last year, JCYF offered activities and events to over 14,000 JC children, and Ernstes said the new building — located at 420 N. State St. in North Vernon — will help JCYF expand to serve more children in the coming months.
"Our new building is less than two blocks from the North Vernon City Park, so we can just walk the kids to the park when we have an outdoor activity and that will be nice if parents or a babysitter are bringing the kids," Ernstes said.
Ernstes said there will also be an expanded year-round schedule of activities in addition to the Summer Fun Fest program.
"We are working to add activities for preschoolers and also for high schoolers, and we welcome suggestions from the community for our programs," Ernstes said. "I would also like to develop some mentoring programs so that high schoolers can be involved with the younger children’s activities. I really hope community members will volunteer their time to help teach certain skills. For instance, someone who runs a martial arts school could come in and introduce the children to martial arts for a session."
"While we are hoping to add many activities to our year-round programs, we will still be doing our previous activities such as kids summer camp, the summer food program, Thanksgiving and Affordable Christmas."
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To learn more about the Jennings County Youth Foundation’s programs visit jcyf.in or call 812-718-2088.
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