PARIS – A series of get-togethers focusing on fathers and their children will be started by Community Concepts on Saturday.

The idea, said program consultant Paul Marsh, is to nurture relationships between fathers and their children, and to allow fathers with like goals to meet. The program is part of Community Concepts’ Celebrating Fatherhood campaign.

“I think we tend to sometimes minimize the importance of fatherhood,” said Marsh, a licensed clinical social worker. “Dads have often been viewed, unfortunately, as kind of secondary parents.”

In order to encourage fathers in their roles, the first event of this program will be a trip to Pooh Corner Farm in West Bethel on Saturday.

In addition, a trip to a Lewiston Maineiacs hockey game is being planned. That will be followed by a visit to Christian Ridge Pottery in South Paris, where children and their fathers will make to their own holiday ornaments.

All the events are free and open to the public.

Marsh said connections have been found between the absence of fathers in children’s lives and problem behavior, including drug abuse and violence. He hopes encouraging strong relationships between children and their fathers is a positive way to counteract such trends.

The perception of fathers as secondary parents has to change, Marsh said, adding, “The more positive attention we can bring to healthy, involved, nurturing fatherhood, the better!”

More information may be obtained by calling 583-2803. The event is free and open to children and fathers of all ages.