The Planeview Activity Camp for Kids (PACK) is back for the second year. The program began on June 23 and will end on August 1. Approximately 115 kids are participating this summer, a 45% increase over the 80 children served last year.
The weekday program begins at noon with the federally funded free lunch program. Once lunch is over, classes and activities begin.
Colvin Elementary School is the site for the K-4 grade program. Participants have been taking cooking lessons, making art and crafts, going to the library, and going on field trips, just to highlight a few of their activities.
Older PACK participants, grades 5 through 8 meet at Jardine Middle School. Their activities include fishing in the creek behind the school, cheerleading, personal care and hygiene classes, publishing a PACK Newsletter and cooking classes. Both campuses really get excited about playing soccer with volunteers from the Wichita Police Department.
Support from the community has been wonderful! Donations have come from several area businesses, including Wal-Mart, Davis Moore, Quick Trip, and the Bicycle Exchange. Sports equipment donations have been received from Dick’s and Gart’s. Coleman has provided coolers, flashlights and camping equipment. Prizes have been collected for distribution as attendance incentives and weekly door prizes.
Some activities remaining this summer will include an Emergency Services Day, bicycle safety instruction, presentation by the Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center, a talent show on July 30, and the big finale – a family cookout in Planeview Park on August 1.
The PACK program is sponsored by the City of Wichita, the 21st Century Community Learning Grant, Communities in Schools, and USD 259. We would also like to thank all of the companies and individuals who helped make the program a success: Quik Trip, Coleman, Botanica, Blockbuster, Gart’s, Dick’s, Davis Moore, the Sedgwick County Extension Center, and Music Theatre for Young People.