Internet after-school special

Greg Risling

NEWPORT BEACH -- Eight-year-old Jeffrey Schmidt went hunting for birds

and deer Wednesday afternoon -- at the library.

Jenny Burlow, 9, conducted a worldwide search for an elusive woman

without moving a foot.

The two kids didn’t have to exert much energy for their activities, but

their minds were being challenged. Or that is the hope by city officials

who added a different dimension to a free, after-school program that

began Wednesday.

Held at the Vincent Jorgensen Community Center that abuts Mariners Park,

the educational project is a new facet of the city’s after-school

endeavor called KidsScene.

Offered to children in the first through sixth grades, the project gives

kids a chance to surf the Internet, explore databases for class reports

and play games that aim to teach as much as entertain.

“The project gives more of an academic twist,” said Melissa Adams,

spokeswoman for the city’s Community Services Department that runs the

program. “It’s an upbeat environment where kids can draw on each other

for help.”

There are four computers available to children five days a week. The

program lasts anywhere from three to five hours, depending on the day.

Adams estimates about 40 to 50 kids stop by the community center every

day. Children will have to sign up on a sheet at each computer station to

log on.

“Waiting isn’t a problem,” Jeffrey said. “If I get bored, I can go

outside and play.”

Jeffrey said he might come by more often now that computers have been

added to the after-school curriculum. His father has a computer at home,

but won’t let his son access the Internet.

“I think he worries about what stuff is on the Web,” Jeffrey replied.

“It’s cool to have somewhere you can go and learn even more things out of

the classroom.”

Jenny was glued to the screen, trying to locate Carmen SanDiego, a

fictional character who is the subject of a popular children’s game.

She looked in India and then Australia, but was unable to find the

trenchcoat-wearing woman. Jenny said she enjoys the game because it helps

her learn where places are.

“I’ve only played it a couple of times, but I get to see places I might

never go,” she said. “I’d like to come back and finish this game. I wish

there were more computers.”

The after-school program has been offered for more than 20 years by the

city. Although many family households have a computer, Adams doesn’t

think that will keep children away from the center.

“It’s an incredible academic resource,” she said. “A lot of kids don’t

like to go home to an empty house. This gives them another outlet.”