DEL NORTE— The High Valley Community Center (HVCC) closed out their summer program last Thursday, Aug. 8. The students spent the summer participating in a wide variety of activities, community projects and taking field trips around the Valley to places like the Creede Repertory Theatre, the Great Sand Dunes and for their final trip, Walsenburg Wild Waters.
The last project completed by the students at HVCC was a mural on a wall that was located near the train tracks on the north side of Del Norte. Students worked with Monte Vista School District’s art teacher Andy McKim to bring their ideas to life. The mural serves as a reminder of the wonderful things the center does for the community of Del Norte and surrounding areas.
As the summer season winds down in the Valley, the center is preparing for their afterschool program which resumes on Sept. 3. The program has over 250 students currently registered that come from several Valley communities like La Jara, Alamosa, Center, Creede, Monte Vista and of course Del Norte. Of these students, most are between the ages of kindergarten through eighth grade who participate throughout the year.
The afterschool program offers students a wide range of activities, help with homework and provides them with basic life skills as they learn the importance of community pride. The center has brought in a staggering $2.1 million to Del Norte and the surrounding communities over the past 10 years, through several private foundations from across the state.
During the school year, students take part in Fabulous Fridays where they either participate in a large activity based at the center or go on field trips to various places throughout the year. The center will be hosting their annual swim lessons at the Sand Dunes Swimming Pool in Hooper. Students are provided breakfast and lunch on Friday and the program is free for students who wish to participate.
The rest of the week students are provided transportation from Del Norte Schools to the center where they get a snack, homework help, participate in activities and even prepared dinner before the program ends at 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Many students have benefited from the program which gives them an opportunity for something to do in rural communities like those here in the Valley. It has grown exponentially over the past several years and HVCC has plans to expand in the future. There are no waitlists, and all programs are free and open to children kindergarten and up. For more information, to register or full a full program schedule, please visit www.highvalleycommunity.org.