News: July 2021

July Report

Summer camps began on July 6^th, after a tumultuous week where the SAU’s Facilities Dept. made the decision to disallow our programs into the building, due to a conflict with their scheduling.  Camps were allowed back in, with no dedicated classroom for Sports Camp, and no private bathroom access for our 1^st-3^rd grade camps.  We increased our staff after our first week, because the new room placements put our children into direct contact with unmasked, unvetted adults and necessitated a new building access point that had children walking in the active driveway drop-off area.  We did our best to the keep the children safe – all Norwich Recreation employees and participants wore masks indoors and children were never allowed to be in the hallways alone. 

We held adult mindfulness programs on Mondays, under our Summer Matters for All grant.  These were very well received, but had low attendance rates.  Other grant-funded options this summer included restrooms at all trail heads, free lunches and extended day camp offered to all families. Our Creative Workforce Solutions employees joined the Sports and Good Life camps, after a week of one-on-one training.  They have both been excellent employees.

Our Bike Smart trailer was maintained by two CITs and one of Creative Workforce Solutions employees.  All camps were offered the option of having the bikes set up for them with obstacle courses on the Town Green.  This was very popular with our 3^rd-5^th grade Sports campers.  The trailer was removed after two weeks.

Norwich Recreation and the Norwich Historical Society collaborated again on a summer camp option that proved to be very popular. They ran Old Time Work and Fun camp, with the kids creating toys, making ice cream, and learning a wealth of history about their own town.  We also collaborated with the Mascoma Bank and the World Story Exchange on Photography camp.  This camp brought kids in grades 4-6^th outside to learn about nature photography and how to tell a story using the visual arts.  Scott and Lindsay Miller hosted this program, and included a field trip to their land with kettle ponds, waterfalls and an abundance of wildlife to photograph. 

King Arthur Baking Company completed their rebuild of the Barrett Bread Oven, using community labor and under the direction of renowned author and construction professional, Richard Miscovich.  The oven will open in September.

Adult programs have begun to come back to Norwich Recreation, but we are negotiating ways to include them in Tracy Hall while still keeping our employees safe.