L-C Kids College to benefit from Seaport Run

(March 20, 2007) Kids' College at Lewis-Clark State College will be the beneficiary of net proceeds from the 30th annual Seaport River Run, which will take place April 28.

The proceeds will purchase engineering robotic kits for the summer youth program that offers a variety of academic and enrichment activities on campus for students entering grades 2 through 6.

The Seaport River Run, which begins at 10 a.m., features 2.9- and 6.2-mile events, both of which begin at Clarkston's Swallows Park and end in Lewiston's Hellsgate State Park. It is a run, jog or walk event that annually draws 800 to 1,400 participants. Entry forms will be available March 1 at sports retail and fitness clubs in the region or online at www.cityoflewiston.org.

The Kids' College 2007 program will have four weekly sessions from June 11 through Aug. 10. Programs include art, culture, music, science, computers, language and recreation.

Seaport funds will purchase eight NXT LEGO Mindstorm Engineering Robotics sets for the science tech classes, according to Deborah Snyder, director of LCSC Continuing Education. Snyder said Kids' College plans to offer one fall and one spring robotics sessions in addition to the four regular summer weeks, with 16 students in each session.

"Over three years, your investment would give 288 area youth an opportunity to be introduced to the wonders of science, technology, math and engineering through the familiarity and fun of LEGOS," Snyder said. She added the NXT robot "is built with cutting-edge technology that was not even available to NASA 10 years ago. The robots can measure the size of a room, talk to students and even take on a life of its own, fully autonomous from the computer."

Seaport River Run profits have been given yearly to a selected Lewiston-Clarkston beneficiary, usually an organization serving youth. Proceeds have totaled $86,000 in the first 29 years.

Seaport River Run recipients the last five years have been: in 2006, the Northwest Children's Home and completion of its education center campus beautification at Vollmer Park in Lewiston; 2005, the Lewis-Clark chapter of Experimental Aircraft Association and completion of its sport aviation and education center at the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport; 2004, Lewiston-Clarkston Habitat for Humanity and the Clarkston Boys & Girls Club; 2003, Lewiston Youth Volunteer Program for design development of a new youth skateboard park, and 2002, Winter Spirit, the voluntary organization that annually prepares Christmas lighting at Lewiston's Locomotive Park and other locations.