Yachats Youth & Family program hires two staffers and makes plans for three kids’ summer camps

By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews.com

The new head of Yachats Youth and Family Activities Program has wasted no time gearing up for a return to semi-normal operations as COVID-19 restrictions ease.

Patricia Hettinger, who began as executive director April 1, has hired two full-time staffers who start Tuesday, and announced three separate summer camp programs.

Joining the YYFAP roster are Jodie Dalby, who replaces Hettinger as new lead pre-school teacher, and Stephanie Burnett, new program coordinator.

YYFAP is a nonprofit serving low-income families in south Lincoln County with pre-school and after-school programs. It shifted to virtual classes during last year’s pandemic shutdown, and plans to resume in-person learning in the fall.

Dalby, who lives in South Beach, had been an assistant at Crestview Elementary School in Waldport for eight years. Since last November, she served as YYFAP pre-school assistant teacher for online sessions, working with Hettinger on the very grant that helped get her hired for her new position. YYFAP snagged a “Preschool Promise” grant last year of $216,000.

Burnett, a Yachats resident, has worked with the Lincoln County School District in reading and math support. She also obtained grant funding to launch a photography project on homeless and shelter-housed youth.

“I’m proud of how we’ve been able to pivot during the pandemic and the job that Patricia and Jodie have done in taking pre-school virtual,” said YYFAP board President Tracy Crews. “We’re looking forward to bringing our programs back in person.”

YYFAP is back in its basement location in the Yachats Commons, and is working with the city to develop a timeline for operating summer camp programs.

“We’re planning for an in-person, four-week pre-school camp, and a four-week school age camp from July 19 to Aug. 13,” said Hettinger. “We’ll use outside areas as much as possible, and adapt our safety protocols as the state changes their guidelines.”

The pre-school camp is free to qualifying families, under the Preschool Promise Grant, and has 18 open slots. YYFAP is working on grants to fund the school-age camp, and hopes that it too will be free for the 20 eligible children it will serve.

New to the summer mix is a partnership with Oregon State University for a STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) camp called “iInvent.” OSU trains college engineering students to work with middle-school age students to develop a variety of STEM skills. Planned for Aug. 23-27 at the Commons, the free camp has 20 eligible slots.

For information on any YYFAP programs and camps, email Hettinger at YYFAPkids@gmail.com.

Once details are finalized, they’ll be posted on YYFAP’s website and Facebook page.

The group is also seeking candidates for its board of directors, volunteers and paid substitute teachers to work in its summer camps.