Department needs help sending kids to summer programs
By Ken Powers Community Reporter

Northborough - The town's Recreation Department is openly seeking help from area residents and businesses so that all children wanting to participate in summer programs will be able to do so.

Every summer, hundreds of kids participate in the Teen Scene and Kid's Discovery Programs, while others work on arts and crafts or play sports under the watchful eye of counselors from the Northborough Recreation Department. Under the guidance of Director Allie Lane, the department sponsors dozens of programs each week of the year, the majority being off ered during school summer vacation.

This year, however, for the first time, many kids who want to participate won't be able to unless Lane can find a way to raise more than $15,000 for the Youth Scholarship Program, a fund used to cover the costs of summer programs for about 20 children whose families are unable to pay the costs associated with attending the programs.

"We're really hoping the community can pitch in and join together and raise the money needed to help these kids," Lane said. "Memories made as kids during the summer are the memories that last forever, the ones we remember the most. I want every kid who wants to create those memories to have the chance to do so."

Earlier this spring, Lane contacted about three dozen civic and sports groups asking for their help to fund the Youth Scholarship Program. At least six parents who have kids who want to attend summer programs, but who can't aff ord to pay for their children to participate, have already contacted Lane. She expects there to be more as summer and school vacation approach.

The cost for children of Northborough residents to attend summer programs in town is $200 per week. That cost goes up to $220 per week for non-residents, who are also eligible to enroll in the programs. The program fees, for the most part, include once-a-week field trips to local points of interest, including zoos, museums and water parks. There are additional fees for specific programs - like swim lessons at Lake Chauncy, for example - since a bus is needed to transport the children to and from the lake.

The Kid's Discovery Program, open to children in kindergarten through fifth grade, runs from Monday June 23 to Friday Aug. 15, as does the Teen Scene Program, which is for kids in grades six through eight. The programs run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with extended-hour arrangements available until 6 p.m. daily. Kids can attend the programs for more than one week if they so desire and there is space available.

Lane said the need for the department to ask for contributions is a result of its recently becoming completely self-sufficient.

"We're no longer funded by the town," Lane said. "We're completely on our own. None of the taxes that residents pay goes toward any part of our budget. Because of that we can't look to the town for help. We have a certain amount budgeted for scholarships and it gets used up very quickly."

Lane said she has received donations from some families in town as well as the Northborough Newcomers Club and the Northborough Extended Day Program, an arm of the Northborough Family and Youth Services Inc., a nonprofit organization in town.

Lane said spaces remain available for all weeks of the Kids Discovery and Teen Scene Programs. For more information about programs or to contribute to the Youth Scholarship Program, call the Recreation Department at 508-393-5034 or log onto northboroughrecreation. com.