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Over 3600 school-age children live in the Chisago Lakes Area School District. What are these children doing when they are not in school? Is a caring adult available to supervise them during the non-school hours? Are they participating in enriching activities-activities that can develop their potential, build their confidence, and help them in their schoolwork? It is one of the top priorities of the Chisago Lakes Community Education to answer these questions with a confident "yes."

Once the last school bell rings, there should be quality childcare and a number of enrichment activities from which parents can choose. Kids Club School Age Childcare is present at all three elementary school-offering affordable and quality after school care. While at Kids Club, students are involved in art activities, board games, and homework help. Caring staff provide a family atmosphere in these locations after school. Also at the elementary schools, enrichment activities that range from science to theater to pottery to gardening are available for the students of these schools. Children can explore their interests in classes that open up new worlds to them. Also, these classes can offer opportunities to make new friends while playing basketball, tennis or skating. In each of these cases, parents and families can know that during the hours of the program, their children are safe and making full use of that time.

During the summer, when kids are out of school with large amounts of time on their hands, athletic and enrichment activities should be available to them. Elementary Enrichment Week is a good example of creating meaningful activities in the summer for our area youth-adults and kids interacting over meaningful activities. Art camp, theater camp, sports camps, archery camps, and daily strength and speed training are all available to local youth. Instead of idling the summer in front of the television, children can learn a sport or develop skill in art or theater. For children whose parents are working, Kids Club provides a complete program of enrichment activities and field trips to keep all who participate busy and engaged. It is the goal of Community Education to offer these opportunities for our area youth in the summer time to supply this important need.

The opportunities for our area youth can be improved-many things that do not exist now for our youth will be created in the future. Enhancing the quality of existing youth programs and increasing the number of programs available will involve all elements of our community. Whether it is an artist coming into an after school program to teach kids pottery or if it is a policeman playing football with 3rd graders on the field after school, the mission is all the same: the adults in our community are connecting with the children of our community and they are working to provide our children with the best experience in life. An example of this improvement would be an organization like the chapters of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association donating funds to buy archery equipment so that scores of kids can have the chance to learn archery; another example would be a local entrepreneur sharing his passion of the game of rugby with high school students. The opportunities to create a wonderful world of experiences for our youth are endless when many hands are put to the plow.

None of this improvement can take place without adults planning and dreaming. A steering committee like the Chisago Lakes Community Advisory Council is an example of the adults in the community pulling together to plan and nurture and dream about what could be possible for our youth. This group of engaged community leaders meets monthly to discuss what has happened and what could happen in our community. This council is always looking for new members to add their input about what could be possible for the youth in our area.

Other groups like the Chisago Lakes School Board and the team of school administrators work hard to oversee what could be possible for our schools with the resources available. These community leaders work to be judicious with the funds and buildings that we have, and they seek to expand the educational, social, and athletic possibilities for the youth in our community. Our hats go off to these women and men for their dedication and discernment.

So what will the future look like in relation to the programs available to our youth? What could we develop in our young people that is not presently in place? The answer does not lie with just one person: it is our whole community that can pool its resources to create the best. It is the weaving of a strong fabric in our community by creating connections and relationships between adults and youth doing meaningful activities together. The Chisago Lakes Area is a good place to live and raise families. Making it better is in all of our hands as we choose to get involved.

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