200 Kids in Summer Rec Program

RFH 2010, News

Sat, Jul 24, 2010

The weather has cooperated and over 200 area children, ages 5-12, are enjoying swim lessons, swim team, tennis, golf, and general recreation, art and crafts in the Hamilton Recreation program.

The centerpiece of the program has always been teaching children to swim and this year the program is flourishing under the direction of Michelle Parker, who joins the program with over 15 years experience teaching swimming and lifeguarding at Sherburne Central School. Over 160 children are learning to swim, or refining their strokes, in small group instruction. Forty-nine children are competing on our swim team against neighboring teams from Oneida, Sherrill, and Norwich. Swim meets are Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Seventy-one children are taking tennis instruction, under the direction of HCS varsity tennis coach Rob Poznar and his staff of HCS varsity players.

Thirty-eight future Arnold Palmers are learning driving, pitching, putting, and golf etiquette under the expert eye of Seven Oaks golf pro Marian Blaine and her staff. Beginners start out on the driving range and more experienced players graduate onto the course for a great introduction to the game of golf.

Finally, activities at the Eaton Street fields and pavilion are humming along as never before under the direction of HCS teacher Renee Merkt. Eaton Street activities include general play and recreation – field games, sandbox play, basketball, soccer – as well as arts and crafts.

Merkt has brought a wealth of new ideas to the site. She has created the “Sunshine Kids” program, which is a more structure program and supervision of the youngest children. She has also added a reading nook, craft corner, nature walks, weekly themes, and “Freaky, Fun Fridays” activities. The Hamilton Public Library is pitching in at Eaton Street as well. Volunteers from the library set up a literacy corner every day with books and reading-related activities and the Book-Mobile visits Eaton Street each Wednesday so that children can take out books for the week.

In addition to providing a wealth of safe, supervised activities for young children for five weeks in the summer, the Hamilton Recreation Program provides part-time summer jobs to over 30 area teens.

The program is supported by the Village of Hamilton, the Town of Hamilton, the Hamilton Community Chest and the state Office of Child and Family Services (Madison County branch). A modest fee is charged to participate, but assistance is available to families in need. No child is denied participation. For additional information, contact Director Harry Jarcho at HJarcho@Hamiltoncentral.org.

Source: Recreation Director Harry Jarcho