ACES summer programs growing in success

It was a successful summer for the ACES after school program in Bigfork.

About 70 youth between ages 5 and 13 attended summer camps every week. Each week had three different theme camps, as well as the leadership camp for older children. Kids were able to learn about things like digestive systems and partake in fun activities such as hiking, biking and swimming.

“We get to go on a lot of adventures and it’s super fun,” Rio McGregor said.

Children in the leadership program have been working on the Bi-Golly News, with Charlie Appleby.

The leadership program doubled its attendance from last summer, Appleby said. In the leadership program children would have some kind of activity in the morning, like team building or counselor training, and spend the afternoons playing.

“We’re like a family,” Josie Howlett, 12, said. “We’re learning to be a leader and stuff.”

Appleby said for many of the children in the program, ACES is the only thing that is really solid for them.

Fees for the summer programs were based on a child’s free or reduced lunch situation at the school, but is open to all children.

“Cathy wouldn’t say no to anyone,” Appleby said.

ACES is partially funded by a grant. Recently the program received an $8,000 grant from Verizon, which ACES director Cathy Hay used to buy Lego products for the children.

Hay strives to make sure ACES is a fun, safe place for kids.

“Basically the philosophy is giving the kids a safe place to go during the day,” she said. “It’s nice that it’s not school.”