Page 4 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - July - August 2022

4

Youth soak up

summer fun

By Frazier Myer
Children enjoyed their vacation from school
with daily activities at the Chehalis Tribal Youth
Center during the 2022 summer youth program.
Youth had a great time together at the
Community Center playing basketball and games,
swimming, tapping into creativity with arts and
crafts and much more. Highlights of the summer
included field trips and getting to explore off the
Chehalis Reservation.
Youngsters visited Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually
National Wildlife Refuge, DEFY jump gym
in Tacoma, Pe Ell Rainbow Falls on the
Chehalis River, Ocean Shores, Par 4 Sports,
Mount St. Helens and Northwest Trek.
Summer Youth Worker Adrian Hjelm-Snell,
who enjoyed working at the Youth Center last
year, decided to spend another engaging summer
with the children. He said it’s a natural fit and
he enjoys his time with the kiddos. Hjelm-Snell The Youth
played thrilling games of kickball with children in Center kept
the program and helped staff during field trips. kids engaged
Along with most of the youth, this summer
Hjelm-Snell said his favorite part with activities
of the summer was visiting DEFY, a such as arts
30,000-square-foot building with 35 and crafts,
trampolines for guests to test the limits of gravity. sports,
From a freestyle course to the zip line to dodge swimming,
ball and foam pits, DEFY let the children test games and
their skills in a high-energy romp! exciting
The summer ended with the annual back-to- trips around
school event. Chehalis tribal members enrolled in Puget Sound.
K-12 received everything they needed to prepare
for the 2022-23 school year. Youth were equipped Photos by
with backpacks and received gift vouchers to shop Youth Worker
for school supplies and new outfits. Coby Higheagle