PARIS – The school year is over, yet children can be seen in and around the SAD 17 elementary schools, bustling with activity. Activities scheduled at each enrichment program are attracting children and families to the point that some programs are full.

The enrichment programs are often referred to as “clubs” and offer a wide variety of activities for elementary-age children. Groups go on field trips that include rock hounding, canoeing, visiting local lakes, the ocean, overnight campouts, town libraries, nature walks and hikes, the Maine Wildlife Park and the Children’s Museum of Maine.

Many clubs created theme weeks with the academics “embedded,” such as “Exploring the Norway Lake Shores,” multi-cultural cooking and crafts, “Photo Fun,” “Harry Potter, Castles-Caves-Costumes,” “Hawaii” and “Discovering Portland.”

Guest speakers include health educators from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, a local animal rehabilitation, the Chewonki Foundation guiding students through Ordway Grove and one coordinator sharing her antique toys and games collection. The programs are also collaborating on transportation for students to attend swimming lessons, the LOOK Program and summer school.

“We’re lucky to have the grant funding enable our programs to serve many children and families, especially those who are struggling with academics or just need more positive social interaction. Our staff are qualified and experienced in working with children; they are great role models. You can tell that they really love being with the children and it’s evident at all of the programs,” said Luba Greene, grant manager.

Students referred to summer school can attend as usual, taught by certified teachers, then can attend the enrichment programs at no charge for those weeks, giving students extra learning, social and physical activity opportunities.

Traditionally, summer school attendance has been low because of transportation problems and scheduling difficulties for parents.

“It’s hard for some parents to get their children to summer school and pick them up after the three-hour session, while having to be at work at the same time,” said Melanie Ellsworth, grant director and Agnes Gray School principal.

She added, “Last year, in West Paris and Norway, summer school attendance was dramatically higher. Parents seem very pleased at the quality of experiences their children are getting.”

This year, the district was also awarded funds for summer school from the Title I and Migrant Program, which will allow even more students to attend the enrichment clubs. Several school student assistance teams and school day staff have also provided funds to scholarship students. More than 100 additional students will have a “camp” type experience at no cost to the families.

In order for students to continue to receive the scholarships in the future, the programs will need to become self-sustaining and look to the community for collaboration and sponsorship.

Six weeks of the summer camp-style programming are being provided as part of the two federally funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grants, which SAD 17 has received. This is the second summer for Norway and West Paris schools, and the first summer for South Paris, Otisfield and Hebron. Programs already in existence before the receipt of the grants, in Oxford, Harrison and Waterford, continue high- quality summer programs.

For more information, call the following:

Waterford Recreation and Enrichment Club, 583-2559, coordinator, Jackie Rice.

Harrison Kids School-Age Child Care, coordinator, Pamela Wilcox.

Oxford School-Age Child Care, 539-2406, coordinator, Linda Allen.

The Explorers, Agnes Gray Elementary School, 674-2332, coordinator, Wendy Allen.

CLUBROWE, Guy E. Rowe Elementary School, 890-0439, coordinator, James Remington.

Otisfield Elementary School, 627-4956, coordinator, Karen Smith.

The DEPOT, Hebron Station Elementary, 966-3323, coordinator, Nancy Lee Piper.