Westfir teacher and mom is big on organizing summer activities and projects for kids

 

By JOY KINGSBURY/for The Herald  —  Amber Meske, Is a caring, innovative Health teacher for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th grades at Oakridge Elementary School. As a consequence of the desire to serve the community and help with the children, Amber has organized a special event in Hemlock Park each Sunday evening at 7:00 PM throughout the Summer. Amber and her Husband, Matt, have seven children, two of which are grown and gone from home which still leaves a crowd in their care.

Their main interest in their life at present is the health and development of their children and all children in the community. 

A game with fifteen kids on each side of the net, Nerf Gun wars with faux bullets, basketball, Capture the Flag, and other games that pique Amber’s imagination are fun and require team play. Amber says that adults are invited to play, and some do, while others come as spectators. So much fun is had by all that the crowd gets bigger and the community gets closer, getting to know one another through fun and games. All this activity is followed afterward by snacks, drinks, and a fun get together. Everyone goes home with a happy feeling of good will.

Amber presented her idea to the community by word of mouth through her sixth graders and an open invitation to the local churches. She built it, got the word out, and they came. Amber’s event includes a game time for all participants. They have had a volleyball with energy and enthusiasm.

The concept came to Amber through her understanding of children’s need to play. She wants to present outside activities that will be healthy, wholesome and allow the kids to socialize in a good old-fashioned way. Outside in fresh air interacting personally and in team play, getting to know one another away from Facebook, Tic Tok, and other social media.

Amber’s next project is to encourage budding writers in the preteen and teenaged circles to write about their interests and adventures. She’s hoping to possibly establish a teener’s section in the local online newspaper. Now, wouldn’t that be an accomplishment! They could tell it, read all about it, and gain understanding in an accepted and proper form of communication.