Joining forces for kids

United Way, AFES prepare for ‘United for Fun’

By DON COGGER, Messenger staff writer
As local schools prepare to let out for the summer, a dedicated group of individuals spent Wednesday afternoon gearing up for the start of United for Fun summer camp, attending an orientation at the offices of the United Way.

A joint effort by Athletics for Education and Success and the United Way and Community Foundation of Northwest Iowa, this year’s camp will once again provide a safe haven for elementary and middle school kids, combining a fair amount of learning with a lot of entertainment.

‘‘The camp is a great place for the kids to spend the summer, and the stuff we have planned is always a lot of fun,’’ said second-year counselor Spencer Ernst. ‘‘The team leaders are always scheduling field trips, some out-of-town trips, and the kids have a blast.’’

Camp will start June 2 and runs through August 15. Each week will have a different theme, from Wild Adventure (including a trip to the Des Moines Zoo) to Summer Camp Olympics to Weird Science, which will culminate in a trip to the Science Center of Des Moines. This year also marks the camp’s move to the Sacred Heart Center, a move that Charles Clayton of the AFES said will work out well.

‘‘We approached the Holy Trinity Parish with an idea of what we wanted to do,’’ Clayton said. ‘‘They told us that they would love to have the kids there, and that it would be a great thing for the community. We were looking for more space, and it just seemed like a natural fit.’’

The United Way and the AFES joined forces on the summer camp concept after both organizations realized that they were working toward the same goal.

‘‘Laurie Hagey of the United Way approached me about possibly getting involved with the summer camp program,’’ Clayton said. ‘‘The AFES had been running a middle school program for the last two years, and she realized that we were providing a quality service. Laurie and I were both looking for a bigger building and more space, and we just thought it would be a no-brainer to combine the two.’’

An undertaking like the summer day camp wouldn’t be possible without the efforts of a large group of people, from the counselors and food service providers to the team leaders and all have one thing in common: A love of working with kids. Juanita Thoen, a cook at Butler Elementary, has been with the program since its inception five years ago and said that each year is more rewarding than the last.

‘‘Each year has been great, but I have a feeling this will be our best,’’ Thoen said. ‘‘I’m really excited. It’s such a joy to get to know these kids, and to see them every day, and to see how much they’re enjoying themselves.’’

It’s programs like these, Thoen said, that can really make a difference in a child’s life and show them that there is a benefit to not spending the summer in front of the television or playing video games.

‘‘The great thing about the camp is that there’s so much going on, there’s no time to get bored,’’ she said. ‘‘The camp has a classroom element, but I think most of the kids would agree that it’s nothing like regular school. It’s a lot more fun.’’



Contact Don Cogger at (515) 573-2141 or dcogger@messengernews.net