RIDGEFIELD — Ridgefield School District has an award-winning Community Education program with a year-round calendar of courses and activities for people of all ages. Recently, a $2,000 matching grant was received from the Ridgefield Lions Club to help provide scholarships for students and families in need, and a fundraising campaign was launched.
Community Education offers a diverse range of programs, including Ridgefield Youth Arts Month, summer camps, before- and after-school classes, and community sports. While prices are kept reasonable, the cost can be a barrier to participation.
The classes — ranging from Lego construction to basketball, from watercolor to cooking — offer students the chance to try new things in a fun and supportive environment. Sports leagues give students the chance to learn and compete outside of school teams.
The first scholarships will cover a portion of the cost of enrolling in this year’s summer camps, allowing more students to take part in the full-day activities.
“We want to see more students coming to summer camps because of these scholarships,” Community Education Director Terri Cochran said. “But if we can raise enough, we want to keep the scholarships going beyond that, for the courses and activities that kids love.”
