The Litchfield Area Mentorship is continuing its mission of matching children with adults who can give them a little extra support. A commitment of just 4-hours a month is required from mentors in the program.
LAMP Program Coordinator Erika Buller says time is valuable, but besides the 4-hours per month, being a mentor is not an expensive endeavor. She says some mentors choose to spend one hour a week with their child while others may do it all in one block such as a Saturday activity, but the main thing is to be a positive presence in their lives.
Buller says the Lunch Buddies is another option for potential mentors and there are 14 each at Lake Ripley Elementary School in Litchfield and at Dassel Elementary School who spend an hour twice a month with a child during their lunch period. She says they recently began the Lunch Buddies program at ACGC Elementary and there are 3 grandmas there who spend time with all of the Kindergarteners.
Buller says if anyone is willing to volunteer with LAMP, they may call her at 320-699-1616 or email coordinator@lampkinship.org. She says the children in the LAMP will have an exclusive shopping event this evening – after the Candy Cane parade – to shop for their parents at the Threads of Hope store.
“Bart and Arnie” will hit the stage of the Ridgewater College Theatre on the Willmar campus this weekend. The performances are at 7 p.m., December 11th, 12th and 13th. Tickets are available at the box office one hour prior to show time.
Written by Adam Szymkowicz, “Bart and Arnie” is the story of two best friends trying to survive in New York City. Bart is the level-headed, pessimistic, yet pragmatic one who worries about rent, dating, making friends and finding a fulfilling career. Arnie is carefree, horrible with money, and doesn’t see the point in worrying about anything, especially toilet paper. Together, they try to navigate life as best they can.
The production is appropriate for all ages, but is targeted at high schoolers and older. Admission is free for Ridgewater students and staff, and $10 for everyone else.
Winter activities are underway at Litchfield Community Education and there are already opportunities to get signed up for spring activities. Several bus trips are also coming up for adults.
Litchfield Community Education Director Grant Solem says there was a well-attended bus trip last week to see “Phantom of the Opera” at the Orpheum Theater in Minneapolis and trips this spring include “Guys and Dolls” at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater on April 22nd, “Birthday Candles” at the Sidetrack Theater on May 14th and the Day Trippers Theater on June 24th. He says one of the enrichment classes for youth this winter is Mini-Dragonaires.
Solem says Mini-Dragonaires is for 4th and 5th graders and it will be held Tuesdays from 3:15-to-4:15 from January 13th to March 17th in the High School Choir Room. He says Val Chellin will direct “Beauty and the Beast” in May which is a good way to introduce kids to theater.
Solem says aquatics will restart in February when the pool renovation project is complete and youth can already get signed up for soccer, softball, flag football, track & field and other spring activities, and it’s not too late to get involved in basketball, wrestling and winter activities. He says they have gift certificates available at their office in the Wagner Building. For more details on any Litchfield Community Education activities, call 693-2354.
