EAST HELENA -- Rachel Church was among dozens of children at Kennedy Park who played games like freeze tag, kickball, football and duck-duck-goose this week.

The 12-year-old also enjoyed a well-balanced lunch and was supervised at no cost to her parents.

But the best part of the day, Church said, wasn't the games or the food, but the new friends she made.

The Kay McKenna Youth Foundation Summer Parks Program, which began more than a decade ago, expanded this year beyond its home at five parks in Helena to include East Helena.

Jen Burckhard, an East Helena mom, was as excited as Christopher, her 8-year-old son, as she dropped him off for the nearby free summer fun.

"Without this there would be nothing for kids in East Helena to do," Jen said. "It's great for them to be outside with adult supervision and get a lunch."

The program's expansion was possible because of a substantial donation from East Helena's parent-teacher organization.

Besides the foundation, funding for the program comes from the cities of Helena and East Helena and various other organizations.

Tuesday was the first day Katlyn Jablonski, 8, participated in the summer program. She was all smiles as she ran around the park playing partner tag.

Although she enjoyed the games, Jablonski was looking forward to the crafts.

Throughout the summer, participants in the program will make caterpillars out of egg cartons, tambourines out of paper plates and stained glass jars out of tissue paper. They'll also finger paint and make ice cream and space ships, said Jannice Odermann, recreation supervisor of the program.

Having a program close to the children's home is important, Odermann said.

"For some kids the Helena sites might as well be 100 miles away," she said. "It's great to provide this to East Helena kids."

East Helena Mayor Terrie Casey said she too is excited about the expansion.

"The program has proven to be successful in Helena and I am sure it will be a success in East Helena as well," she said. "It is such a great opportunity for our kids to have fun in a supervised environment.

"Many parents work in Helena, and it is difficult to transport them to Helena for activities. Lots of kids will be able to walk or ride bikes to Kennedy Park and that should increase the number of kids able to participate."

Kay Anderson, a para professional in East Helena, is working as a recreation leader this summer with the program. After raising two children in the community, she knows first hand how difficult summers can be.

"It's very hard to keep them safe, happy and entertained all summer," she said.

Eighteen-year-old Jake Schwaller has worked for the program for the past three summers.

"I couldn't ask for a better job," he said. "It definitely doesn't feel like work."

Schwaller spends his days leading the games, and it's hard to tell who is having more fun.

Stetson Ratzlaff, 9, rides his bike to the park and is glad to have something fun to do during the day.

"I'd just stay at home and watch television if they didn't have this," he said.

Children ages 6 through 13 are welcome to attend The Kay McKenna Youth Foundation Summer Parks Program including lunch, provided by the Rocky Mountain Development Council, at Lincoln, Memorial, or Sherron parks in Helena and in East Helena at Kennedy Park.

Activities are also available at Barney and Lockey parks in Helena, but no lunch is provided. Program leaders are at the parks from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday until Aug. 6. For more information call 459-4479.

Reporter Alana Listoe: 447-4081 or alana.listoe@helenair.com