FIFTH OPENING – The Sitka seine boats Hukilau and Rose Lee pump herring aboard this afternoon at the end of Deep Inlet during the fifth opening in the Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery. The opening was being held in two locations beginning at 11 a.m. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson) 

New RFP Sought For Managing PAC
27 Mar 2024 14:48

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The future of management and operations at the Perform [ ... ]

Seiners Get Second Day with 2 Areas to Fish
27 Mar 2024 14:46

By Sentinel Staff
    The Sitka Sound commercial herring sac roe fishery continued today with open [ ... ]

Braves Take Second in Last Minute Upset
27 Mar 2024 12:41

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    After storming into the state 3A boys basketball brac [ ... ]

Tuesday City League Volleyball
27 Mar 2024 12:39

By Sentinel Staff
    The Queen Bees’ spotless season record ended Tuesday night with a 2-1 loss [ ... ]

Kodiak Alutiiq Museum Getting New Attention
27 Mar 2024 12:37

By SHIRLEY SNEVE
Indian Country Today
    A major renovation at an Alaska museum to attract tourist [ ... ]

House Hearing on Inmate Deaths Halted
27 Mar 2024 12:35

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
    A presentation about a jump in the number of inmate deaths in  [ ... ]

Nominee to Bering Sea Council: Not a Trawler
27 Mar 2024 12:34

By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
    Tribal and environmental advocates calling for a crackdown o [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Police Blotter
27 Mar 2024 12:26

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 26
At 2:10 p.m. a man e [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Community Happenings
27 Mar 2024 12:25

Big Rigs Sought
For April 13
The 3 to 5 Preschool’s spring fundraiser and Big Rig event is happening [ ... ]

Reassessments Raise Tax Bills for Sitkans
26 Mar 2024 15:22

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The city’s reassessment of taxable real estate, alo [ ... ]

Two Areas Opened in Herring Fishery Today
26 Mar 2024 15:21

By Sentinel Staff
The third opening in this year’s Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery was held Mon [ ... ]

Lady Wolves Rally to Take Fourth at State
26 Mar 2024 15:16

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    Sitka High’s Lady Wolves bounced back from an openi [ ... ]

Edgecumbe Girls Close Out Season Up North
26 Mar 2024 14:58

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel ports Editor
    Competing in the state 3A basketball tournament in Anc [ ... ]

City League Monday
26 Mar 2024 14:55

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing in a competitive division City League volleyball game Monday evening [ ... ]

House Votes to Broaden Rules For Review Panel Memb...
26 Mar 2024 14:52

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    A bill that passed the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday  [ ... ]

Alaskan Grilled in D.C. Over Climate Science
26 Mar 2024 14:51

By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
    Gus Schumacher, the Anchorage Olympic cross-country skier, a [ ... ]

Faster Internet Speeds In Rural Schools OK'd
26 Mar 2024 13:53

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
    Alaska’s rural schools are on track to access faster interne [ ... ]

Native Words Gathered In Environment Studies
26 Mar 2024 13:52

By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
    In the language of the Gwich’in people of northeastern Alaska,  [ ... ]

March 26, 2024, Police Blotter
26 Mar 2024 13:49

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 25
At 7:48 a.m. a calle [ ... ]

March 26, 2024, Community Happenings
26 Mar 2024 13:48

Vietnam-Era Vets
Invited to Lunch,
Commemoration
American Legion Post 13 will host a luncheon 1-3 p.m.  [ ... ]

Sac Roe Herring Fishery Opens in Hayward
25 Mar 2024 15:30

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The 2024 Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery got under [ ... ]

Projects on the Table For Cruise Tax Funds
25 Mar 2024 15:28

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The Assembly will start the annual process of determi [ ... ]

Braves Take Second at State after Close Loss
25 Mar 2024 15:23

By Sentinel Staff
    Competing in the 3A state championship title basketball game Saturday, the M [ ... ]

City League Games Continue
25 Mar 2024 15:11

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing through the afternoon Sunday, City League volleyball teams faced off [ ... ]

Other Articles

Daily Sitka Sentinel

Parks & Rec Opens Summer Camp Signups

By SHANNON HAUGLAND

Sentinel Staff Writer

Sitka Parks and Recreation continues to roll out programs for the summer, with new offerings posted at least every other week.

Gymnastics offerings for all ages are filling up at a quick pace, although there are still openings for the age 3 to 5 Preschool in Motion class starting June 5.

“(Director) Trisha Bessert and I picked out new equipment for both indoor and outdoor activities,” said Andrew Roseman, recreation specialist for the new city program.

Each preschool course runs two weeks, 9 a.m. to noon, three days a week, with sessions June 5-16; and June 19-30. A different activity will be offered each hour, including about an hour of gymnastics each day.

Roseman said he and temporary coordinator Barb Morse have been receiving calls and emails from people with suggestions and offers to teach courses over the summer.

The Parks and Rec program was started through the Community Recreation Initiative. The Assembly approved funding for the program, but other funds come in through user fees and seeking other sources of funding, including donations and partnerships with other nonprofits.

Three dozen camps and classes are posted on the city Parks & Recreation website, including intro to rock climbing camp, May 30-June 3, for grades 5-8; intro to aviation camp, June 6-9, for grades 7-12; a youth running club, June 27-Aug. 12, grades 5 to 8; summer music camps and classes for all ages, including adults.

Meghan Devine, a teacher and outdoors enthusiast, is the course leader for the rock climbing course, which is half-filled and starts next Tuesday. Space is also available in the aviation camp Fly the Sky, taught by Jack Davis, who is a pilot.

“That will include field trips and working with flight simulators,” Morse said.

Roseman said Parks and Rec is looking for a few more participants in one of the music programs, a weeklong musical theater camp for grades 6-8, which starts June 5.

One of the offerings invited Sitkans to join a Juneau program tracking their walking miles, which drew close to 60 Sitkans this year before registration closed.

Roseman said so far 270 have signed up for the various classes, not including the walking program. 

“That is a really impressive number, this being our first year, and putting it all together, using the recreation site, and helping the public figure out how to navigate it,” he said.

Roseman, who has lived in Sitka for two years, was also pleased the program secured two school district AmeriCorps volunteers to help with programming over the summer.

The website includes a link for residents to apply for financial help. The scholarship program is funded by the Melsness Family Foundation, through the Community Recreation Initiative.

“Lots of people have applied – I’ve had 34 people apply for scholarships,” Roseman said. Half and full scholarships are available to individuals and families.

The city Parks and Rec program is in its first year, and started with the task of coordinating city league (adult) basketball and volleyball, both of which were popular with 114 basketball participants, and 108 for volleyball.

The summer should be a busy time for the program. 

Morse said more gymnastics classes and outdoor activities will be offered during the summer and will be announced in the next few weeks.

The city funds most of the program, and Morse is grateful for the collaboration with the Sitka Sound Science Center, which has a cooperative grant to provide funding and resources.

“This allows us to offer and pilot a lot of new programs to meet the needs,” Morse said.

Most Parks and Rec activities are at Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary, including gymnastics, music and preschool in motion. Rock climbing is at the Hames Center and the aviation class is at Mt. Edgecumbe High School.

Roseman said the office is always receptive to ideas for camps, classes and activities. The office is in the old Community Schools space at Blatchley, and staff can be contacted at 907-747-4031. The link to activities is at cityofsitka.com, under Departments, and Parks & Recreation.

 

You have no rights to post comments

Login Form

 

20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Matthew C. Hunter of Sitka recently returned from Cuba as part of a St. Olaf College International and Off-Campus Studies program. Hunter, a junior physics major at St. Olaf College, is the son of Robert and Kim Hunter of Sitka.


50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Eighth graders have returned from a visit to Juneau to see the Legislature. They had worked for it since Christmas vacation ... Clarice Johnson’s idea of a “White Elephant” sales was chosen as the best money-maker; Joe Roth won the political cartoon assignment; highest government test scorers were Ken Armstrong, Joanna Hearn, Linda Montgomery, Lisa Henry, Calvin Taylor and David Licari .....

Calendar

Local Events

Instagram

Daily Sitka Sentinel on Instagram!

Facebook

Daily Sitka Sentinel on Facebook!