First Day Off School is Friday, September 2 and We've Got You Covered!

http://www.pearcecc.com/programs/kids-programs/day-camp/

Before & After School Care Available at Pearce

Pearce Community Center is offering the Before and After School Care program again this year. The program provides a safe and fun place for children in Kindergarten through 6^th grade to go during the before and after school hours. The program is held every day Illinois Valley Central District #321 is in session. Before School care is provided from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. After School care is provided from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 P.M. The program includes homework time, snack time, organized games, physical education, Exergaming, and free play.

Bus service for the Before School portion of the program is provided to CEC and South School. Bus service for the After School portion of the program is provided from CEC, South School, and Mossville. St. Edward’s School staff escort students to Pearce after school.

The weekly cost for Before School care is only $31.50 for Foundation members; $35 members; and $45 non-members. The daily cost is only $7.87 for Foundation members; $8.75 members; and $11.25 non-members.

The weekly cost for After School care is only $63 for Foundation members; $70 members; and $80 non-members. The daily cost is only $15.75 for Foundation members, $17.50 for members; and $20 for non-members. 

Intro to Wine Class Not Just Educational

Think you have to be a bit of a snob to be knowledgeable about wine? Not true! Participants at the Introduction to Wine class and wine tasting at Pearce on Monday, June 20 learned a great deal during the fun, casual event. 

Harry Crawford, Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano manager and wine expert taught the group about the basics of varietals, wines of the world, blends, how to read wine labels, and how to buy and evaluate wine from a variety of different wineries including California, France, Italy, and other European counties.  

Key wine making processes were discussed including choosing and harvesting grapes for various flavors and textures and how growing soil affects grape size, color, and juice.Some award-winning wines will not produce a batch of wine if the grapes are substandard that year. Instead, producers will combine several types of wines and give it a new label.  The type of wood used for the barrels that hold wine during the aging process also impacts flavor. 

Crawford also talked about the variety of wine bottles. The "best" wines are put into bottles that have a large indented base. The more expensive the bottle, the more indented the base. The large indentation will trap extra sediment into its crease. The sediment won't pour and this creates a purer wine. 

The class also sampled nearly a dozen different types of wine during the class. 

Weekend Snackpac Program Receives United Way Funding

Pearce presented a check for $6,000 to the Chillicothe First United Methodist Church Weekend Snackpac program on Wednesday, June 22.

Adults left to right: Brenda Stewart, Kim Whitehurst, Ty Fennell, and Patty Audo.

 "We are delighted to present this check," said Ty Fennell, Pearce Community Center Board President. "Pearce is a Heart of Illinois United Way agency, so we were able to apply for funds raised during the Power of the Purse event held earlier this year."

Fennell presented the check to Brenda Stewart, and Kim Whitehurst from First United. "This financial support from the Heart of Illinois United Way through Pearce Community Center is a huge boost to our ability to keep providing weekend Snackpacs to kids in Chillicothe," said Whitehurst. "It's another example of how our local community and charitable organizations have helped make the program successful and allowed it to expand to reach more kids as we begin our fifth year. We are now providing 347 Snackpacs each weekend and covering all classes at South School and the Chillicothe Elementary Center as well as many students at IVC High School and Calvary Baptist School."

June Extra Fun Specialty Camps Dribble, Polish, and Craft Their Way to Success

Dozens of children participated in June Extra Fun Specialty Camps, learning, playing, exploring, and discovering more about their favorite area of interest. 

Basketball camp took place the week of June 13. Sports and Leagues Manager Gavin Sullivan put campers through their paces in dribbling, passing, shooting, defending, and physical endurance. 

During the week of June 20, group exercise instructor Tracy Smith led the Wacky & Fun Creative Art Camp. Children decorated magnets, created paper mache art, made tie-dye t-shirts for themselves, painted on canvas, and made art out of items found in nature.  

Instructor and counselor Priscilla Reny led Bows, Braids, and Beautiful Nails during the final week of June. Campers learned how to make their own hair bows and paint nails using several techniques including flowers, water marbling, and nail stamping. The class began with a basic three strand braid, and then advanced to a braided headband, a fishtail braid, and a five strand braid. 

July Junior Fit Certification Class

Pearce is offering Junior Fit Certification on Monday, July 18, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. After successfully completing the class and receiving certification, young members ages 13 and 14 will be allowed access to the cardiovascular room and the Selectorized equipment area.

Participants will learn how to use the equipment in a safe, productive manner. Additionally, they will learn fitness etiquette and rules.

Pearce Foundation members pay only $9; members $12. Advance registration is required.

Thirsty?

By Raquel "Rocky" Herron, Fitness Manager

We hear it all the time, drink more water! Why does it seem that health and fitness professionals are constantly talking about the benefits of water? We all know that water is essential for life, but do you know what can happen with even mild dehydration? It certainly has been hot lately and it's easy to get dehydrated and often times we experience symptoms that are related to dehydration, but fail to realize it. This article arose from a recent conversation I had with my husband in which he told me he was extremely tired, his muscles and head ached, and he basically felt awful. My reply was, "how much water did you have today?"  Of course I knew what his answer was going to be, "not enough."

With summer in full swing, we tend to sweat more. It's hot and our bodies are trying to keep cool!  With sweat comes the loss of precious fluid, along with important electrolytes. It's easy to overlook the symptoms of dehydration, but it's important to recognize them in order to avoid serious damage.  According to Mayo Clinic, symptoms of dehydration include: dry mouth, sleepiness, headache, and dizziness, just to name a few. If left untreated, dehydration can cause serious complications that include: heat stroke and possible heat exhaustion, kidney failure, seizures, and brain swelling. An important thing to mention is that dehydration doesn't have to happen all at once either, it can be cumulative, which means it can happen over a period of days. So who's at risk and what steps can be taken to prevent dehydration?

Anyone can become dehydrated, but there are certain groups of people who may be more affected than others. Endurance athletes and those who work and exercise outdoors during summer months can easily become dehydrated. Infants and those with illness are also more susceptible to dehydration. It's important to be prepared in hot conditions, which means a little work is required.  Ideally, you should drink before, during, and after exercise. If you plan to exercise longer than an hour, grab a sports drink as well to help replenish important electrolytes lost during prolonged exercise. Wear cool, moisture-wicking, fast drying clothes to help you stay cooler. If you start to feel sick, sit down in a shaded area and hydrate!

With all this talk about drinking water, there is an important condition I'd like to mention, and while it seems unlikely, it has happened to endurance athletes. It's a condition called hyponatremia.  Hyponatremia occurs when the sodium in your blood becomes too low, resulting in swelling which can be mild or possibly lead to death. While most of us have an issue drinking enough water, it is important to know that too much water can be a serious issue not to be ignored.

The take home message is this: the body will not function properly without proper hydration.  Dehydration is not just about feeling thirsty, it can cause headaches and lethargy as well. Knowing what to look for in terms of dehydration is important to avoid more serious issues like heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Make hydration a priority when exercising and working in hot, humid weather.  While it's unlikely, too much water is a real issue and should not be ignored. Remember, have fun and keep moving!

Fall Youth Soccer League Registration Now Open

Registration is now taking place for Pearce Community Center’s Fall Youth Soccer league. Soccer is open to boys and girls ages 4 to 8. All games and practices will be held outdoors at South School in Chillicothe, weather permitting.

The League is designed to provide fun recreational soccer practice and play during which participants will learn basic skills and rules of the game in a structured environment. Every child will play, regardless of their soccer experience and skill.

New this year will be a smaller field and teams (about 5 to 6 children per team), and no goalies, setting a faster pace for the games, higher scores, and giving each child the opportunity to touch the ball more often. Players will be grouped by age: 4-6 will play 3 on 3, 7-8 will play 4 on 4, and 9-10 will play 4 on 4. All teams will be coed. IVC Boys Varsity Head Soccer Coach Nolan Wilson will lead instruction, skill development, coaching, and manage referees.

Registration ends August 16. The first week of practice will be held one to two weeks before the first game on Saturday, August 27. The last game will be played on Saturday, October 8.  

Pearce Foundation members pay only $33.75. Members pay $45, and the fee for non-members is $60. 

Gyms Closing

Both gyms will be closed on July 23 and 24 for floor maintenance.

Pearce Foundation Awards Annual Scholarship

Pearce Foundation president Andy Ruhland awarded the annual $5,000 Pearce Foundation scholarship during the IVC graduation ceremony to Emily Terpstra. The scholarship is presented to a graduating IVC senior who exemplifies volunteerism in the community.

	Emily Terpstra

Emily began participating at Pearce as a child, playing basketball and volleyball and earning babysitting certification by attending a class. Through high school, she played a variety of sports and volunteered for the Youth For Christ Mission trip, Adopt a Block at Taft Homes, Special Olympics, and Rescue 33 doughnut days. 

Her future studies at Arizona State University will prepare her for a career helping people through Industrial Design with prosthetics. "Soon after I first made the decision to look into prosthetics, I was working out with a friend at Pearce," said Emily. "Another woman came in to work out, and I noticed she had lost a leg. I sat down and had a conversation with her about her story and what is hardest for her to deal with when it comes to her prosthetic. It was a great learning experience for me and sparked my interest in prosthetics even more!"

The Pearce Foundation, established in 1993, attracts financial resources through Foundation membership fees, planned giving, and donations for the purpose of providing long-term financial security to Pearce Community Center.