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In North Branch, kids are making a difference and having fun at the same time this summer.

The Summer Stretch program, run through St. Gregory's Catholic Church, ended with a picnic last week before the final celebration - a trip to Valleyfair - this week.

St. Gregory's Youth Director Christy Hoffman said the 30 kids in the program learned to understand the balance between working hard and playing hard.

Seventh through ninth graders are invited to sign up for the Summer Stretch program. Participants meet once a week to complete service projects in the morning and then experience the reward of a fun activity in the afternoon.

Hoffman said the days have all been different, with the crew winding up at local areas to clean up ballfields and parks, to Twin Cities destinations where they volunteered their time.

Perhaps the most memorable stop for the teens, Hoffman said, was when they helped out at a Second Harvest food shelf in Minneapolis.

"It's just the right balance with service that helps them see beyond their daily life," Hoffman said. "Especially going to places like Second Harvest, it can really open their eyes."

The afternoons were filled with activities like trips to the Science Museum and Wild Mountain and a city-wide scavenger hunt.

First State Bank of Wyoming once again sponsored a program-ending picnic of burgers and root beer floats for all the kids. Debbie at First State Bank said their bank president looks forward to participating each year by grilling the food himself. She said First State Bank has been involved with the Summer Stretch program for as long as she's been with the bank, which is eight years now.

The program officially ends with a trip to Valleyfair, where the kids will celebrate with 2,500 Summer Stretch participants from across the state.

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