The summer of 2024 in Belle Fourche has been ‘cool’, certainly not in terms of temperature, but very ‘cool’ in terms of the availability of fun, engaging, educational, and eclectic activities for kids and teenagers.
Three Belle Fourche City Department leaders are primarily responsible for recognizing the need for things for kids to do during the summer, then collaborating to make it happen. The process was orchestrated quickly.
Last spring when they learned that the JAM and TRAK after school programs had lost their funding and would not be operating this summer, Tri-State Museum Director Kristi Thielan, Belle Fourche Recreation Director Jody Westerberg, Recreation Center Worksite Wellness Coordinator Tessa Anderson-Voyles, and Belle Fouche Public Library Director Wanda Nelson got busy.
Knowing that families and kids were losing an important outlet for exercise, supervision, and activity, they began to plan collectively. Each organization played an important role.
Museum director, Kristi Thielen organized the meetings and helped find funding for snacks. “The chief idea was to fundraise to provide snack monies for the library-museum-rec center and to make each department aware of their summer programming and to increase the summer programming this summer so kids would have more to do.” she said.
Ultimately, support came from all around the Northern Hills. Life Light Creative in Belle Fourche was the only business that responded. The Belle Fourche School District Foundation donated $1,000 for materials. Museum, library and recreation center department funds were not used.
“Additionally,” Kristi noted “My staff created a ‘Passport’ which kids could use at the three departments, to get stamps.” Awards for participants will be decided soon.
In Belle Fourche Library Director Wanda Nelson’s words, “Our Summer Reading Program was very successful this year!” The library offered the traditional reading program, story times and hosted the very popular story-time yoga event initiated by Tessa Anderson-Voyles.
“We were honored to have the rodeo queens come to read to the children on July 2.” A presentation by the Black Hills Raptors Center was also well attended.
Wanda Nelson expressed gratitude to her staff and parents, “I would like to give my staff a huge shout out for all their hard work this summer! I would also like to commend the parents and caregivers for getting the children to these events.”
Tessa Voyles-Anderson at the Belle Fourche Recreation Center was responsible for the creation of various interdisciplinary activities such as story-time yoga wiffleball, badminton, and basketball. She took the opportunity to hold different events in all the city’s parks. Thus, families and kids visited areas of Belle Fourche they may not have otherwise ventured to. The idea behind this initiative was to create new activities or creative habits for the participants.
The lifeguards also assisted with the summer activities. During the pool renovation, the lifeguards helped with the summer activities in the park, and started building relationships with some of the kids who would soon be joining them for swimming lessons.
One of Tessagoal that the participants would enjoy the outdoor activities and learn from them.
Technically, the collaborative program ended when the Summer Reading program closed, on Saturday, July 20th. But there will still be programs going on, especially at the Rec Center.
“It’s nice to know what a small group of City employees put together We truly appreciate your support. “Belle Fourche Recreation Center Director commented.
Certainly, Belle Fourche kids will be healthier, safer, and smarter for the efforts of a small group of concerned city department heads.
