SUMMER BLAST WAS BACK WITH A BANGCommunity Unlimited’s Summer BLAST program is back with a bang! After one week of “vacation” (if you can call getting ready to educate and entertain over two hundred kids of all ages a vacation) the formidable staff of CU is back in action.
Malinda Olmsted is the site director for the high school, where over thirty students are enrolled in credit-recovery activities. Visits to local colleges are also planned, to acquaint the future graduates with the college campus and activities that are available. The garden club is planting a butterfly garden in the courtyard of the high school, and joining the middle school in a vegetable garden.
At the middle school, Cher Troup, interim site director, is very excited about the upcoming summer and the activities that are planned for the kids. “We are just so excited to be back!” she said in an interview. “We have so many things planned, and the kids are great. Our teachers are the best; we have Ronda Fisk, Dawn Morris, Kyle Miller, Nick Martin, Kim Palmerton, Hannah Burdick, and Sherry Smurr. They have so much experience to share, and are looking forward to a great summer!” Approximately sixty-five middle schoolers have signed up as of the first week of the program. Activities include the gardening club, which has started a vegetable garden behind the middle school building. A part of the harvest will be donated to the Union City Food Bank. The rest will be canned and sold at the Farmer’s Market later this summer. Another popular group is the Inventors Club, where a few inventions are being re-invented and many others are coming up from Original Thoughts.
Site Director Emily Dibert is staying busy at the elementary school, with over one hundred kids participating in Summer BLAST. Keeping everyone in line are foster grandmas, as well as CU staff Marcia Stuart, Tim Minor, Lance Wilkinson, Kelly Smeltzer, Alisha Gaylord, Ali Baklund, Kandice Harrington, Emily White and Joe Good. Joining the party for this summer is intern Alona Gaylord, who is filming a documentary on the program. The free breakfast and lunch program has been extremely popular at all the schools; however, probably the most fun place to be an observer is the elementary. Some 
of the younger students can barely see over the counter to get their bagged lunch! Their excitement is evident; one young lady was overheard saying, “We get oranges? COOL!!!” After eating, they clean up and take to the afternoon activities, from the playground to doing arts or learning cooking, or so much more. On Wednesdays, the afternoon is filled with towels and swimsuits as the schools join together on buses to travel to Coldwater’s Heritage Pool. Friday has field trips to many interesting sites, such as Kalamazoo Valley Museum and upcoming trips in June to Coldwater’s Popcorn Theater, Little River Railroad Depot Tour, and Binder 
Park Zoo. Earlier trips have included Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and Full Blast in Battle Creek.
of the younger students can barely see over the counter to get their bagged lunch! Their excitement is evident; one young lady was overheard saying, “We get oranges? COOL!!!” After eating, they clean up and take to the afternoon activities, from the playground to doing arts or learning cooking, or so much more. On Wednesdays, the afternoon is filled with towels and swimsuits as the schools join together on buses to travel to Coldwater’s Heritage Pool. Friday has field trips to many interesting sites, such as Kalamazoo Valley Museum and upcoming trips in June to Coldwater’s Popcorn Theater, Little River Railroad Depot Tour, and Binder 
Park Zoo. Earlier trips have included Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and Full Blast in Battle Creek. For more information on upcoming trips and activities, call Julie Dibert at 517-741-4656, or check the website at www.communityunlimited.org. Volunteers are welcome, and new ideas for activities are also appreciated!
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