The Lakeway Activity Center has been honored two years in a row for Excellence in Programming by the Learning Resources Network (LERN), an international association in lifelong learning. Programs Coordinator, Dallas Gorman accepted this year’s award on behalf of the City of Lakeway, Parks and Recreation Department and Instructors Suzanne King and Deb Griffith.
This year’s program was awarded specifically for the Center’s ability to listen to what people want and continually add new and innovative programs. This resulted in record breaking revenue in youth classes. The “Make and Mail” holiday card class was one such program recognized. In this class, students create two holiday paintings suitable for framing and one is chosen to be printed as holiday cards. In addition to the picture and the cards, parents received a disk formatted with the design to print additional cards. Instructors Suzanne King and Deb Griffin kept the class interesting with holiday themed activities (decorating sugar cookies, gift exchange games and pin the nose on Rudolph). This class was so popular; when parents requested additional classes, the Activity Center was able to schedule accordingly and allow more kids to participate. Several kids returned for each class as a different theme was used in each session.
LERN’s primary criterion in selecting exemplary programs was the quality of being at the leading edge of the field of lifelong learning. In addition, the following criteria are considered: originality, innovation. Appropriateness and adaptability as a model for other programs, replicability and measurable outcomes, Julie Coates, Vice President of Information Services for LERN, said this year’s award nominees were among the highest quality ever submitted.
Find more information about LERN.