The Crothersville Department of Parks and Recreation was recently awarded a $15,000 Fall Grant from the Community Foundation of Jackson County. According to Parks Board president Steve Plasse. the grant, along with support from Cerrowire, will fund a Picnic Shelter and Day Camp at Countryside Park next summer.
Foundation funds supporting the grant included the Jackson County Community Endowment, the Jackson County Unrestricted Endowment, the Carl and Doris Kovener Endowment and the Immanuel United Church of Christ Vernon Township Community Fund.
Planning is now under way to build a 20’x24′ picnic shelter with water fountain, lighting and electrical service, and next summer, a week-long summer day camp will be offered to rising 4th- and 5th-grade students at Countryside Park. The camp will offer exercise, disc golf, guided walks with naturalists, cooking, team building, and art instruction. Camp counselor jobs will be offered to Crothersville Juniors and Seniors next spring.
Crothersville & Vernon Township residents interested in joining a camp steering committee may call the Town at 812 793-2311 and should consider the following:
•Members should be willing to volunteer at least two full days at the camp and pass a background check
•Monthly planning meetings from December through June
•Needed areas of expertise: exercise, disc golf, nature, health, nutrition, cooking, art
•Experience with youth is helpful
•Steering committee will need to raise funding for the camp and try to build an annual, sustainable program.
Businesses and individuals wishing to support the day camp are welcome to donate funding. Gifts of $100 or more will be thanked on a camp T-shirt made for all campers, counselors and adult volunteers, Plasse said. Donations can be made at the Crothersville Town Hall at 111 E. Howard Street