News: May 2020

May report

Youth Sports:  Governor Scott approved ‘Skills and Drills’ practices.  On June 8^th, U10 and U12 baseball, lacrosse and soccer programs will begin.  All teams have created their own COVID-19 safety plans, had them approved and completed their VOSHA training.  Field spaces will be managed in accordance with the 25pp capacity limit per field. Whenever possible, there will be an open field between active programs.  Norwich Recreation has supplied all coaches with sanitizing wipes, paper masks and gloves.  Any youth participant has cloth masks available to them on an as-needed basis.

Weekly Vermont Recreation Directors meeting have recently included Dr. Breena Holmes, Director of Maternal and Child Health for the Vt. Dept. of Health.   She has done a wonderful and much appreciated job of interpreting the Governor’s orders in a pragmatic manner.  Ken Jones and Jessica Savage have continued to advise our group throughout the month.

The Norwich School Board and the SAU approved Norwich Recreation’s Health & Safety Guidelines for camps this month, clearing the way for summer camps to run on schedule.
Tennis courts opened this month, including Pickleball.  We have renewed our rental agreement with the River Valley Club, adding in a youth tennis camp run by their staff in July.  
Hats Off finished up with Brookmead Conservation Area, also the site of our new MTB Stewardship Camp with Jane LeMausier, Norwich Farms and the Upper Valley Land Trust.
We, along local members of the MTB and trail communities, assisted the Upper Valley Land Trust in their removal of a rogue trail system on their conserved property.  

The Youth Advisory Council met with the Lions Club.  The Lions have agreed to help sponsor the Council’s Porchfest (Labor Day weekend).  The will hold joint meetings, and pair up on projects pertaining to the event.

We are working on events with Norwich Police and King Arthur Flour.  Drive in movies, online baking competitions and a farm bike ride are all being discussed.

The Child Care Center of Norwich has new leadership, and Norwich Recreation is looking at collaborative after school programs with them and the new Montessori program in town. 

We are working on the permitting for the Huntley Meadows bridge replacement.  The bank erosion is a significant issue.
 
**Safety plans for COVID-19 are attached**