DECATUR — Travontaye Claypool has had fun the last few years learning about the outdoors through various trips to canoe, hike, explore caves and camp.
But first Claypool, a freshman at MacArthur High School, and other Boy Scouts who meet on Saturdays at Reasonable Service had to learn how to swim. Reasonable Service is at 321 E. Leafland Ave. in the Kingdom Come Ministries building.
“I didn’t know nothing,” Claypool said. “I was afraid to get in the water.”
Having the Scouts pass swimming tests after lessons at the Greater Decatur Y pool has allowed the program to offer a wider range of trips, said Michael Scherer, a volunteer leader of the group. A lot of the children wouldn’t otherwise have such opportunities, Scherer said.
“They’re able to do things they’ve never done before,” Scherer said. “We’re always pushing to do new activities and provide opportunities for them. We get these children at this age and teach life skills so they have them by the time they get to high school and college.”
People are also reading…
The goal is to develop the children into responsible citizens, Scherer said.
“You have to come every week to really know what is going on,” said MacArthur freshman Isaiah Gilliam. “I look forward to it.”
A group of Girl Scouts, ranging from kindergarten to sixth grade, also meets each Saturday to learn many things, teacher Kim Tucker said.
“It’s more than just coming here to do a fun activity,” Tucker said. “It’s a positive environment. They can get a break from the outside world.”
In January, Tucker talked to the girls about such health topics as H1N1 influenza. February was devoted to history. In March, they were going to get into eating well and exercising, Tucker said.
Shayveon Gaines, a fifth-grader at Parsons School, has enjoyed the field trips, learning and meeting friends, some of whom she knows from either school or church. It gives her something to do.
“I have nothing else to do,” Gaines said. “I’d be at home.”
When the children get into middle and high school, Reasonable Service offers them a chance to participate in Generation Impact, which provides them with activities throughout the year.
“We want them to have fun, but we also want them to learn skills,” said Tayisha Nelson, Reasonable Service director.
MacArthur junior Desiree Neal enjoys writing for the program’s magazine. She wants to have her own advice column.
“With Generation Impact, it gives us more of an incentive,” said Neal, who wants to be a lawyer. “It’s something I like to do. I’m able to be with my friends and have fun learning lessons.”
Each month, a group from Generation Impact visits Lincoln Manor residents, Nelson said. The visits provide value for both age groups, Nelson said.
“Some of the elderly don’t have family who come visit,” Nelson said. “When the youth give back, they can see their situation is not as bad as they might think.”
William Hood, who participated in the program before graduating from high school last year, had a friend who would always beat him in checkers during the visits.
“It keeps them young,” Hood said. “They got a kick out of us being there. Most of them seemed happy. When we come, it really brightened up their day.”
Kyle Lovett has enjoyed volunteering to help the Generation Impact youth.
“I can be a positive influence to let them know somebody cares,” Lovett said. “They really need somebody to work with and have somebody to talk to. It’s good for me to see them open up a lot more.”
In addition to the programs that meet Saturdays, Reasonable Service offers tutoring, ACT prep, field trips and fine arts programming including music lessons.
Nelson said more activities are offered throughout the week during the summer, including a work program, to give the children more to do.
clusvardi@herald-review.com|421-7972
