Event will give children in Scott City a sample of youth program

Scott City children can get a glimpse of what it was like for 15 others who participated in a community group's day program over the summer during a free event Friday at the Scott City Park.

The Scott City Interactive Park Program, or SCIPP, will host the first SCIPP Anne Smith Day beginning at 8 a.m. The event, for children ages 7 to 13 who live in the Scott City School District, will include games, lunch and a trip to see "Kung Fu Panda 2" at Cape West 14 Cine. The day is named after a former group member who died in mid-July.

Earlier in the summer, SCIPP, a group that has been working recently to establish a youth program in Scott City, held a six-week program that took children on field trips and provided new social experiences at themed activity workshops.

Paul Schock is the chairman of the SCIPP committee, which is associated with the Scott City Kiwanis Club, the Scott City Women's Club and the city parks department. The group is funding programs and events with donations from area businesses and service organizations.

Schock said the group began two years ago as several interested residents, including himself, Smith, parks director Phyllis Crump and businesswoman Kathy Schlosser, were looking into the possibility of starting a satellite of the Boys and Girls Club in Scott City. The group found, however, that the costs would be more than it could handle, so members began looking into starting an independent group.

"We came up with the idea of trying to do something on a grassroots level, and pulling together everyone in the community," Schock said.

The group has been in talks with the Scott City School District about a possible after school program. Schock said he hopes they can have one starting in the 2012-2013 school year. In the meantime, the group is planning events themed for Halloween and Christmas.

Roxanne McCallister brought her two children, Christian, 16, and Rebekah, 12, to participate in the group's summer camp. Christian worked as a junior counselor, which is a volunteer position offered by the group for teens ages 14 to 16. Although McCallister and her children live in Kennett, Mo., she travels extensively in the area for her job as a photographer for Lifetouch Studios. She said she plans to move to this area soon and saw the camp as an opportunity for her children to get a head start on meeting others.

"They really enjoyed it and got to do a lot and see a lot," McCallister said. "It was also a good chance for them to make friends up here."

Schock said the group sees a need for an alternative to day care and an after-school program for older children in the Scott City area. However, the group expected more participation in the summer camp program. Although community donations paid for around $4,000 of the camp's expenses, the group had to charge a participation fee that varied from $50 to $100 per week.

Schock said SCIPP would also like to eventually serve senior citizens and adults.

"We're trying to get things going in the community that there is a need for," he said.

Registration is free at the Scott City city hall, park office or at www.scottcityscipp.com. Friday there will be a charge of $10 for a child who is not registered.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

100 Horseshoe Lane, Scott City, MO