To the editor:

As summer came to a close, Lake Placid Central School’s Community Schools program was excited to give students a memorable final week of vacation through four different camp experiences. More than 80 students joined us for programs designed to spark curiosity, build confidence and ease the transition into the school year.

We hosted a Sports Camp for grades 3-5, a Robotics Camp for middle schoolers, a STEM Camp for first and second-graders and a Kindergarten Camp to welcome our newest, youngest learners. Throughout the week, kids skated, zipped through the trees, flew drones, discovered the science of cooking and learned new skills.

None of this would have been possible without the support of our community partners: ORDA, the Town of North Elba Park District, Bike Lake Placid and Greg Borzilleri, Experience Outdoors, the Northwood Hub, and Cindy Baird for her work with the STEM camp. A big thank-you also goes out to our kindergarten teachers for creating such a warm and exciting start for incoming students.

Finally, we want to recognize the dedicated staff who made these programs a success: Niki Coursen, Olaf Carlson, Keith Clark, Patricia Damp, Constance Hammaker, Shelia Preston, Sam Baker, Lauren St. Louis, Jenn Ivimey, Jeffrey Martin, Keith Fenton, Marley Small, Bri Monty, Brianna Kane, George Smith, and Kellson Thompson. Their energy and commitment gave our students a week to remember.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen, including the Lake Placid Central School Board of Education and Superintendent Tim Seymour. We look forward to building on this program started three years ago, and continuing to provide meaningful experiences for our kids.

Brenden Gotham

Community Schools Coordinator

Lake Placid Central School