Hollister
– They’re everywhere. Crowding local coffee shops, loitering in
parking lots, scooting down sidewalks and maybe even serving your
fast-food burger.
Hollister – They’re everywhere. Crowding local coffee shops, loitering in parking lots, scooting down sidewalks and maybe even serving your fast-food burger.
School is out and local kids are at large in Hollister, ready to spend the next three months at work, camp or planted in front of the TV.
“I’m just trying to make sure The Man doesn’t get me down,” said Buddy Emmons, who will be a senior at SBHS in the fall.
Though many kids have uttered the age-old cry of, “There’s nothing to do in Hollister,” the community really does open up for the summer, rife with activities for even the choosiest students.
Activities for young children are particularly abundant. Aside from summer school offered by the Hollister School District for students behind in their coursework, or enrichment offerings for migrant education students, parents have a wealth of options to make sure their children get some structured time with peers – and maybe even learn a thing or two.
Despite budget cutbacks and staffing shortages, Hollister’s Parks and Recreation Department still offers numerous summer programs designed to get students outside and running around. Summer sports and swim lessons are offered throughout the summer, and Rainbow Theatre offers plays specifically for young actors.
The YMCA offers its annual summer day camps, which are a traditional favorite with younger kids. Families can choose camps with a specific focus, like tennis or cooking, or more general day camps that offer a variety of activities for students in grades one through eight for a few hundred dollars.
For families without the extra cash on hand, or for students who simply prefer to stay closer to home, parents can still make sure their kids are engaged and active over the summer. Reading is one good option.
“You can do a lot of special things with your children over the summer – family excursions or gatherings with extended family are great for kids,” said Anita Franchi, HSD’s Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services. “We encourage students to keep a log of all the different places they read over the summer – under a tree, in a meadow, in the kitchen. Reading is great because it takes you different places without ever leaving home.”
The California Department of Education has compiled a reading list for students of all grade levels and their families at www.cde.
ca.gov.
Many older students choose to spend their summer months at work, saving up for a car or special trip, or just for the sake of having a little extra cash.
“I really encourage all the kids I work with to get a job over the summer,” Elena de la Puerta of the Hollister Youth Alliance said. “The pressure of working and going to school full time can be too much during the year, but over the summer they can earn some money and get a little taste of what it’s like in the real world.”
Summer jobs might not be the most glamorous in the world – fast food and camp counselors tend to be the most teen-friendly. But for a high school student earning a paycheck, it’s worth it.
“I worked at A & W last year, and I’m hoping to get a job as a waitress a little later in the summer so I can get tips,” said Melissa Garcia, an incoming senior at SBHS, who currently delivers bounce houses with her uncle for summer cash. “I’m saving up so I can go to Mexico at the end of the summer.”
Other students find ways to mix business with pleasure.
“I found out about this agency in my drama class during finals,” Emmons said. “You give them $20 dollars and they set you up with auditions for ‘extra’ parts in movies and theater. … That way I can make a little extra money and I’m doing what I like to do.”
Most of all, summer is all about having fun for local kids, and enjoying that extra freedom before school rears its ugly head in August.
“I went to the BFD (concert) earlier in the summer and I’m going to the Catalyst next,” Emmons said. “This is going to be a great summer, because we’re old enough to drive and do what we want now. We’ll probably all be sneaking out of the house for the next few months.”
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or ds****@fr***********.com.
