Around 100 Adair County students from kindergarten through eighth grade took a field trip to the Louisville Zoo.
Heather Dudley, Family Resource Coordinator at Adair County Primary Center, said that the Shriner’s in Adair County pay for the students to attend the circus each year in February.
She thought a trip to the zoo for the summer program would be a fun and learning experience for the students. Dudley contacted Steven Baker, local member of the Shriner’s Club, and inquired about funding for the zoo trip.
Baker contacted Barry Dunn, president and CEO of Kosair Charities and former Adair Countian, and Dunn facilitated the purchase of the tickets through the Kosair for Kids experience fund.
Dunn coordinated with Dudley and other counties were invited. There were 30 students from Taylor County and 20 students from Cumberland County who were also given this opportunity. Other schools were contacted but were unable to attend for various reasons.
The local Shriner’s collect money each year through various fundraisers to donate to the Kosair Charities.
“We want to show that the money we donate does come back to Adair County,” said Baker.
The students who participated are part of the summer school enrichment program that is funded with the 21st century grant.
This federally funded grant is very competitive, but Adair County has received it for many years. The summer program gives priority to children who are referred by teachers for either academic or social enrichment, and then other students may sign up for the program.
“Even though we call it a camp, the students are in instruction every day” said Dudley. “We have classes like a regular school day. This grant helps students to meet academic standards.”
by Amy Pike
amy@adairvoice.com
