Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 6, 1993 TAG: 9304060092
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: DAVID LEVIN SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
AFTERNOON UPGRADE
IT'S just after 2:30 on a typical Wednesday afternoon and ninth-grader Richard Fisher is at the library in Radford. Ordinarily he would have nothing to do except read, do homework, hang out with the other 20 to 50 kids at the library, or just wait for his ride home.But today, Richard and about 20 other youths will participate in an environmental project designed by Radford University student Tara Byrnes.
The project, which will include games about the environment, is part of an after-school program set up by university students.
It provides free after-school activities at the library for pupils in grades seven through 10, said Gerri Glass, director of the university's Service-Learning Center.
Most of the youths' parents work full time; and, Glass said, there are few places other than the library the youngsters can go after school.
The program, which began in February, was developed by the Service-Learning Center in partnership with the Radford Public Library.
Richard, who attends Radford High School, said he enjoys talking with the college students and is glad the after-school project has been set up. "It gives me something to do other than riding the bus home and watching TV."
Twenty-one students from Radford University sociology, social work, and recreation and leisure services classes are involved in the program. So are a couple of volunteer students.
The college students design, set up and take part in the activities. Each day, four to six university students are at the library.
Nicole Disibbio, a sophomore communication science and disorders major, said she has seen many youths hanging out at the library, and it makes her "feel good that we can give them something positive to do."
"At first they thought we were invading their hangout and they didn't want to be baby-sat," Disibbio said. "Then we started to discuss the activities and they became excited."
Pending parental permission, Glass said, the college students plan to take the kids onto the Radford campus to tour the radio station, swim, go bowling and possibly watch dress performances of plays by Radford University students.
"I [really look] forward to the bowling," said Olga Yerrick, an eighth-grader at John Dalton Intermediate School. Both of her parents work and she usually is picked up at the library around 5:30 p.m.
Other activities include field trips to parks, a visit to a museum, scavenger hunts, using video cameras and watching movies, said Catherine Kling, a graduate student intern with the RU Service-Learning Center.
Ginna Cropper, coordinator of children and young adult services at the Radford Library, said there are up to 50 kids in grades seven through 10 at the library every day after school.
Russ Boyd, a ninth-grader at Radford High School, waits at the library until basketball practice starts around 3 p.m.
Boyd lives in Fairlawn and both of his parents work, so when basketball season is over, his mom picks him up at the library after school.
"Now that the college students are here, I wouldn't mind being picked up even later, since there will now be something to do when basketball season is over," he said.
Bob Young, principal of Dalton Intermediate, said that because youngsters in this age group don't have drivers' licenses, they must take the school bus straight home or wait for someone to pick them up, "so they go to the library to socialize or occasionally the rec center."
"Sixteen is the age they usually stop hanging out here [at the library]," Cropper said. "At 16 they are driving or one of their friends is driving."
Glass said there is no public transportation for the youths in Radford.
"The library, being located right in front of the intermediate and high school, is where a lot of kids walk to after school," Glass said.
Richard Fisher is typical of the kids at the library. Of those who took part in the environmental project, every one said that both of their parents work.
Radford University's Service-Learning Center was awarded a grant of $2,390 by the Virginia Campus Outreach Opportunity League to develop the after-school program.
Glass expects to have enough money left from the grant to continue the program in the fall.
Youths wishing to participate simply need to show up at the library after school.