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MEXICO — The Western Foothills Kids Association’s four-week summer program, Full STEAM Ahead, concluded on Thursday, Aug. 2.
More than 100 students from both Mountain Valley Middle School and Dirigo Elementary participated in Full Steam Ahead, which was held at two different locations — Mountain Valley High School and Dirigo Elementary School.
Both programs included a variety of activities including STEM, Improv, Coding, Art, Gaming, Fitness, weekly visits from 4-H and more. Additionally, Western Foothills Kids Association was able to expand summer STEM-related programming after receiving a grant from the Maine Community Foundation Oxford County Fund.
Soon after the beginning of the school year, afterschool programming will begin at both Mountain Valley Middle School and Dirigo Elementary School. Registration forms will be available at both schools, however, because of cuts in funding this year, there may be limitations as to the number of students accepted. Miki Skehan, the deirector of Western Foothills Kids Association, said, “Our funds come from a 21st Century Grant that reduces funding in the fourth and fifth year of the grant, and we are now in our fifth year of the grant.”
Furthermore, Skehan added, she is “in the process of developing a plan with local schools and organizations to apply for a continuation grant or new grant that would ensure afterschool and summer programming next year and thereafter. There are still questions, however, as to how the new application will work given that students.”
For more information about the program, or for those interested in volunteering or donating, contact Skehan at 207-357-6987 or message her on Western Foothills Kids Association Facebook page.
“Afterschool programs pay enormous benefits,” she said. “They inspire children to learn. They keep kids safe in the sometimes perilous afterschool hours. And they help working parents keep working, free of fears about what their kids might be up to after the end of the regular school day.”
PHOTO: Tyler Watson, Kaleb Voter and EJ Williams take part in the gum drop bridge penny challenge during the Western Maine Kids Association Full STEAM Ahead program. (Submitted photo).
