ECFE has had a wonderful year with families and kids. For the first time, we are ready to do a summer program for families. We are planning to have fun, learn a few things, and enjoy the weather and communities we live in. Our focus for the kids room will be: Minnesota for Mini-Sotans” so we’ll be doing a lot of activities for kids that center around the wonderful state we live in. Instead of making kites, we’ll make “looney kites.” Instead of water play, We’ll go “up north” and fish for the big one. Parents and child care providers get to come to the classes, also, and I hope to act as a resource for whatever needs they may have, from sun safety to thumb sucking. Aside from that, you can watch for healthy snacks to be served (with a recipe booklet for you at the end of the class). Parents also will spend some time talking about systems of archiving those many, many papers, projects and wonderful kid-gifts we collect during the childhood of our children. Ideas for taking good pictures of kids and using them as a basis for our keepsakes are ideas that we are bringing to the class. So come to learn and see fun ideas for you as well as your child. Classes located in Watkins (Which are available to both Kimball and Eden Valley Watkins parents, by the way) are designed for the busy family with preschool age children. You may choose to come out one day a week for two hours of fun and action. The whole family can come from 9-11 a.m. either Tuesday or Thursday. We know that you don’t have that simple a life, though, so if you have swimming lessons during the weeks of June, we encourage you to do this class during the swim lessons. You may do 9-10 a.m. on Tuesday and again 9-10 a.m. on Thursday and still get the whole class without a repeat of activities. When lessons are over, you can continue for the next two weeks, or can slip back into the 9-11 a.m. time frame. So look at our offerings and make it work for your family to enjoy your summer with little stress. On June 6 (6:30-8 p.m.) we are hosting a family picnic night at Watkins Elementary School. Cost is $5 per family (Please pre-register, since we need a minimum number of families for Rachel to come) and we provide the utensils for your meal, beverages, and Rachel Kurtz will come to entertain you either outside or in the school gym. Rachel’s forte’ is Jazz and she works nation wide in church ministry, especially to youth groups. She will entertain us with music, and may even get us “jazzing” along with her. Check out her Web site by entering “rachel kurtz” in your search engine. Our second family picnic night is at Willow Creek Park in Kimball. On June 20, 6:30-8 p.m., we’ll be doing family games outside. Come for fun and laughter with your family. Cost is the same, with us providing the game materials, friendly competition, and utensils and cool drinks for everyone. In case of rain, the evening will be held in the Kimball Elementary Gym. Take a Friday off for fun with your family with a bus taking you to and from a child-centered destination: • Come to the Monticello Pool on June 15; bus leaves
