HVCC celebrates after school program in style

High Valley Community Center celebrated 10 years of afterschool programs on Thursday with well over 100 guests.


DEL NORTE— The High Valley Community Center was the place to be last Thursday as the facility partied the night away in celebration of 10 years of after school programs for Del Norte and the surrounding areas. The center was packed to the brim with people from the community, guests from as far as Alamosa and children of all ages dashing here and there among the festivities.
MisFire, a band out of Colorado Springs, had set up stage in the playground area of the center and were dishing out family-friendly, new age tunes while children laughed and danced at their feet. The lead singer interacted with the young crowd, singing familiar songs from the radio stations and occasionally spinning one or two as they moved to the resounding beats.
The Del Norte Fire Department had their work cut out for them as they served up grilled hamburgers and hotdogs from a large grill set up near the street entrance. Hungry guests lined up to wait their turn in a line reaching all the way to the back of the facility at one point. No one minded the wait though, and everyone seemed to be enjoying the community togetherness of the event.
Several local organizations, including the Del Norte Public Library and Gateway Church had booths set up to inform parents and guests of their children and teenage programs that will be taking place throughout the summer. Each organization provided information and sign-up packets for those who wished to participate in their programs, including HVCC as well.
The center has several fun activities planned for the summer program which will start on Tuesday, June 4. Every Wednesday, the center will be hosting their annual field trips to places like the Sand Dunes, Splashland Swimming Pool, the Creede Repertory Theatre and will feature other fun, community-based programs on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.; more details pertaining to the programs will be reported soon!
The night was filled with fun activities and chances to win door prizes which included $100 Chamber Bucks, which allowed the winner to spend $100 at any of the local participating businesses, three gift baskets with gift cards and handmade items from Kathy’s Fabric Trunk, passes to the Sand Dunes Swimming Pool and more.
The center would like to thank everyone who participated, donated and helped with the event. A huge thanks goes out to the Del Norte Fire Department, Del Norte Police Department, Rio Grande Hospital, Colorado State Patrol, Del Norte Head Start, Gateway Church, Colorado U.S. Forest Service-Rio  Grande National Forest, Rio Grande County Museum, Del Norte Public Library, Rio Grande County Public Health, Mountain Monkeys Leather and Crafts, Kathy’s Fabric Trunk, The Perks and the Del Norte Chamber of Commerce for all of their help and generous donations.