4 • The Beacon June 16 , 2022
Youth program provides a variety of experiences to children
By Josie Sellers
When Building Our Bears ended last summer , Niki Wine knew it was a program she wanted to bring back to students in the River View School District .
“ The kiddos loved it last year ,” she said . “ On the last day , I had one cry and ask why they couldn ’ t do it all summer long .”
The 2022 summer session of Building Our Bears ran from May 31 to June 10 . Students met from 9 a . m . to 1 p . m . at Conesville Elementary School , where they had educational activities , guest speakers , and were provided breakfast and lunch . They also went on field trips .
“ I want to give as many opportunities to children in the district as I can ,” Wine said . “ Some of these kids have no idea what is out there in the community and makes it a great place to live .”
Her goal was to provide different activities than last year and continue to make the education lessons not like school .
“ We weren ’ t on computers or Chromebooks ,” Wine said . “ We tried to do hands-on lessons .”
One-hundred-ten River View students kindergarten through sixth signed up for the program , and they averaged about 78 per day . Two of the younger students attending were Gio Guerrero and Bronson Endsley . They were in the first group to go through the Coshocton Fire Department Safety House , which was brought to the program by Bronson ’ s dad Brent Endsley , the fire prevention officer . The safety house gave the children the opportunity to learn about fire , storm and kitchen safety and learn about getting out safely during a fire , which they practiced .
“ You had to touch the door with the back of your hand ,” Guerrero said .
Bronson Endsley said , “ There was smoke but no fire .”
Brent Endsley encouraged the children to make a fire safety plan at home with their families .
When the students weren ’ t with Brent Endsley , they were getting a tour of a fire truck with Fire Chief Randy March from the volunteer fire department in Conesville . He explained all of their equipment to them and let them get up in the cab of the truck .
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I want to give as many opportunities to children in the district as I can . Some of these kids have no idea what is out there in the community and makes it a great place to live .”
Niki Wine
Josie Sellers
Brent Endsley , the fire prevention officer for Coshocton Fire Department , is pictured with his daughter Elli Endsley .
Callen Cutshall enjoyed seeing the equipment , but his favorite part of Building Our Bears was recess . Finn Shrimplin liked seeing the firefighting equipment but also enjoyed the kits from Cosi that taught them about dinosaurs .
Before heading outside to learn about fire safety , Elli Endsley , Sophia Sellers , Arianna Sandlin and Celia Buxton played a game to practice their area and perimeter skills .
“ I ’ m happy my dad is coming today ,” Elli Endsley said before her class came out to see Brent and the safety house .
She liked their field trip to the Wilds and so did Sandlin . Buxton ’ s favorite part of the program was their trip to Roscoe Village , and Sellers said she liked meeting new people .
Building Our Bears is grant funded , and Wine plans to keep the program going as long as she can .
“ We have the MVESC grant for five years , and this is year two of it ,” Wine said . “ I ’ m going to reapply and work like crazy to get it again . I just love the kids . I tell parents I ’ m going to treat your child like they are mine .”
The River View School District ’ s summer session of Building Our Bears ran from May 31 to June 10 . Students received hands-on educational lessons and a variety of special activities , like a visit from the volunteer fire department in Conesville and the safety house from the Coshocton Fire Department .
Josie Sellers
Students wait in the safety house to learn about being safe in their house and how to make an escape plan in case of a fire .