Kim Way takes the reins of Plattekill’s summer camp

By RICK REMSNYDER
Posted 7/20/22

Recreation Director Kim Way likes to think of all the kids that participate in the Town of Plattekill’s Kids Summer Camp and other town programs as her own.

“I tell parents when they …

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Kim Way takes the reins of Plattekill’s summer camp

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Recreation Director Kim Way likes to think of all the kids that participate in the Town of Plattekill’s Kids Summer Camp and other town programs as her own.

“I tell parents when they leave their kids with me that I consider them my kids and they’re my babies to protect,” Way said in an interview with the Southern Ulster Times at the town’s summer camp at the Thomas Felten Park in Modena.

Way has three kids of her own – Kyle (6), Karter (4) and Kallee (2). When doctors discovered Kyle was suffering from bone marrow failure when he was just 15 months old, Way found out just how giving her community was.

“He had no red blood cells and no white blood cells,” Way recalled. “There were a bunch of blood drives done within the Town of Plattekill. People came and donated blood and it helped us a lot.”

Way said her son is in remission now and is doing fine after having heart surgery to repair a hole in his heart.

“Now we’re living like normal,” Way said. “But I’ll never forget how the community responded.”

Even though Way has been the recreation director for less than a year, she’s improved the programs available for the town’s kids.
Way, a 2013 Wallkill High graduate, ran a very successful Trunk and Treat program during Halloween. She also organized a Christmas tree lighting at the town park with Santa eventually arriving on a fire truck.

The Wallkill High School choir also performed several songs at the Christmas tree lighting.

One of her biggest accomplishments was reviving the summer camp after it was curtailed for two years during the pandemic.

It seemed that it might not happen again this summer as Way reported at the May 18 Town board meeting that only 25 campers had signed up.

But after the board decided to fund it even if the turnout was low, Way’s persistence eventually drew about 72 campers for the summer camp that is running from June 27 through July 29.
Way said it helped that the Southern Ulster Rotary sponsored several children for the camp and some parents liked the option of being able to send their kids for three weeks as opposed to the entire five-week camp.

“A lot of parents were really, really happy about it,” Way said of the three-week program.

In addition to the usual activities at a summer camp, Way said there have been three field trips on Fridays. These trips have included trips to a bowling alley, a movie theater and an indoor trampoline park.

Supervisor Jennifer Salemo and Councilman Dean DePew Sr. told the Southern Ulster Times that they’ve been really pleased with Way’s performance since taking over the recreation department 11 months ago.

“Kim has been fantastic since day one,” Salemo said. “This young lady has brought the recreation department back to life with all her passionate focus on details of how to make any event fun for the children.”

DePew said Way brought her experience organizing events for the Plattekill Fire Department to the town’s recreation department.

“Kim has hit many obstacles with the COVID pandemic and has persevered positively over and over as she navigated these issues and moves our recreational program ahead (by) restructuring and making it stronger,” DePew said. “I look forward to all of the new ideas as well as the positive directions our recreational program is moving. I look forward to seeing our recreational program blossom as we move forward with Kim.”

Way said the town board has been very supportive when she offered new ideas for the recreation program. When she suggested a couple of large fans could cool off things under the town pavilion, the board approved the purchase of two large wall fans that were recently installed at the pavilion.

“The board has really been great to work with,” she said. “Whenever I bring a new idea or suggestion to them, of course they ask questions. But they’ve been very supportive.”

Way said she hopes to bring more vendor-related events to the town in the near future and is hoping to get approval to increase the salaries of her camp employees.

“They really do good work,” she said.

The same certainly applies to Way, according to Salemo.
“Kim has been great to work with and I look forward to the many more ideas that will come from her,” Salemo said.