NORWICH – Despite budget cuts almost every year since 2002, the City of Norwich Youth Bureau’s Winter Recreation Programs for 2007 may see their busiest year ever.
With 302 children currently involved in Youth Bureau programs and more registrations due in from the three programs remaining in operation, “2007 is on track to surpass our busiest year,” said Youth Bureau Director Bob Mason.
This year’s winter activities included soccer, junior wrestling, gymnastics, baseball, softball and bowling  – which was nearly cut from the 2007 program. Because of budget cuts, the bowling program was nearly disbanded. To keep the program going, Mark Ewen, the manager of Plaza Lanes, entered into a partnership with the Youth Bureau, allowing the youth group to play for free, and Mason volunteered his time to coach the program, also working free of charge. “We’ve managed to keep running without eliminating programs,” Mason said.
This year, the Youth Bureau saw increases in the number of participants in all of their programs. “Wrestling and gymnastics were our best programs, as far as attendance, but they all picked up in numbers,” Mason said. Many of the programs offered by the Youth Bureau wouldn’t be available to the children if they weren’t offered by the city. “Gymnastics was cut from the school a few years ago,” Mason said as an example. This year 108 children participated in the program offered by the Youth Bureau.
In addition to the scheduled programs, the Borden Avenue Skating Facility is also a part of the Youth Bureau Program. The Borden Avenue facility offers free skating and skate use and is open from late December to early February, weather permitting. This year over 2000 skaters took to the ice, during the six weeks the facility was open.
“Our goal is to get kids out of the house and away from the TV and the junk food,” Mason explained. “A lot of kids wouldn’t fit into the normal school programs. This gives them an opportunity they might otherwise not have.”
The Youth Bureau is now beginning to plan for their summer programs. They plan to include swimming lessons for ages 5 to 20; a lifeguard starter course; a competitive swim team for ages 8 and up; playground time for ages 5 to 9; two sessions of soccer, one for kindergarten and first graders and the other for second through fourth graders; tennis for ages 8 and up; summer educational and fun trips and open access to the Borden Avenue Skating Facility and Skateboard Park all summer. More information will be offered as it becomes available.
The Youth Bureau Programs are offered free of charge to young people ages 5 to 20, who reside in the City of Norwich, and the five surrounding townships of Norwich, North Norwich, Preston, Plymouth and Pharsalia. Children living outside of these areas may still participate, but they may be required to pay a registration fee. Interested parties must register to participate in any of the programs, with the exception of the Borden Avenue Skating Facility. For more information, contact the City Youth Bureau at 334-1206.