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The Kermit Keweenaw Kids youth program is a summer program dedicated to local kids.
Mary Crampton, a juvenile correctional officer is running the program, and talked about what the program is, and what it means to kids in the community.
“The Kermits Kids Program is a program that provides recreational, educational, and cultural activities for kids who live in Keweenaw County between the ages of 8 and 18.” – Mary Crampton, Program Director and Juvenile Correctional Officer
“Well the program was originally [funded] partially by Kermit Bryant but also by the state of Michigan with our basic grant and it’s used for prevention to keep kids out of trouble, and we have a very low delinquency rate and a very low rate of foster care in this county, and part of it is because we do what we can to keep the kids occupied and engaged in positive activity.” – Mary Crampton, Program Director and Juvenile Correctional Officer
It is expected to be a little different this year than it has in the past due to the activities.
“The main thing that we always work around is the kids take swimming lessons at Michigan Tech, because we really believe strongly that since we live so close to the water, all the kids need to know how to behave around water and know how to swim. So one of the things I’m working on right now [is organizing] a high ropes course, a climbing wall, we are going to the Adventure Mine this year, we’re going to the Calumet Arts Center, [and we] got a new bus last year, so we need to design what we want the bus to look like, so they’re going to work with artists from the Calumet Arts Center to pick a design and then paint the bus.” – Mary Crampton, Program Director and Juvenile Correctional Officer
There will also be other activities such as learning independence in the kitchen and Keweenaw waterway cruise.
The program begins on June 19, but registration is tomorrow at the Allouez Township Hall from 10 am to 12pm.
