In response to pandemic, a new school

A new childcare education program, Riverside Learning Camp, is opening in Columbia Falls later this month. The camp will offer free educational sessions for at least 30 fourth-through eighth-graders in a twomonth program funded through a Coronavirus Relief Fund grant offered by the state.

The camp’s creator, Lucy Beltz, hopes the program will help shoulder the need for community childcare and educational assistance in a time when normal programs, like the public library, have cut back on hours or, like the Boys and Girls Club, have an extensive waiting list to join, she said in a recent interview with Hungry Horse News.

The camp is set to open on Oc. 14, and will feature three daily twohour sessions, for groups of 10 students; one in the morning, one after lunch and one after school. Each session will focus on eLearning support, outdoor activities and field trips.

The program aims to assist the influx of parents and students alike who are now juggling at-home online education for their kids during the pandemic.

“It’s just a lot to manage if you’re trying to work from home and manage your student’s schedule,” said Beltz. “And sometimes it’s just easier to work with a different adult than your parent. So yeah, the sky’s the limit on who might need support or access. It could just be a break for parents too, if they’re working from home and trying to help their students with online learning or homeschool, and also it’s just providing that opportunity for social interaction.”

The after-school session will be open to any district student, but the morning and afternoon sessions will prioritize students who have opted for online learning during the pandemic.

The camp will provide Wifi for eLearning support, helping connect students to their classrooms by keeping them on schedule to make video conference meetings, assisting them in emailing teachers with any questions about assignments and just generally helping at-home students stay on top of their workloads.

Every session will provide students with daily outdoor activities, emphasizing exploration of the Flathead river from River’s Edge Park down to Teakettle bridge, Beltz said. The program also plans on offering a variety of field trips, based on student interest, that could range from horseback riding to hikes.

The idea for the camp originated when Beltz, a Columbia Falls resident and Early Childhood Education Consultant for programs in Montana and across the country, heard of the grant.

After assessing the need in Columbia Falls, Beltz decided to submit a proposal, learning at the end of September she was awarded the grant. She immediately began looking for rental properties and after an unsuccessful search decided to modify her home, set up wall tents and use outside learning space to create her own location for the camp.

The grant provides enough funding to cover three staff, including Beltz as a director, a camp education facilitator and a health safety and education aide.

The current round of funding allows the camp to be offered free to children from October to December. Beltz said they would be willing to extend the program if further grant opportunities are available. Even if funds do dry up they’d still be interested in extending the school for a fee, she said. Families can register for the camp and get a tour of the location by calling or texting Beltz at (406) 471-8614.