News

Thank you for running in our 22nd annual “A Day at the Beach” Road Race! We hosted a record number of runners this year (321) and we thank you for spending your morning with us. And the winners are … CLICK HERE!

Week 2 News from the Beach (Click here for PDF version)

Let Freedom Ring!

We will hold classes as usual on Thursday, July 4, and we hope that you will join the Kennebunk community in celebrating the holiday with fireworks over Kennebunk Beach after dark. They are set off between Gooch’s and Middle beaches, though they look great from Mother’s Beach and the KBIA area as well! Happy Independence Day from all of us at KBIA.

American pride on parade

To celebrate Independence Day in our own unique fashion, Nils and our Waterfront Staff will be decking out our fleet and leading a boat parade around the Cove and over by Mother’s Beach, as conditions permit. From the Cove, our “Gollywobblers” class (ages 7 and older) will lead the parade.

 Start time is yet to be determined  (watch our website and Facebook) All KBIA family and friends are invited to bring their own boats and join in the fun — or simply enjoy the “parade” from shore.

Road Race is Sunday; Volunteers needed

We are gearing up for this Sunday’s 22nd annual “Day at the Beach” 5K and 1K Kids Fun Run. Won’t you join us? Registration is still open (click here) and also at the registration desk on Sunday morning. The start and finish line is on Lord’s Point Road, and the course winds though the gorgeous neighborhoods around the beach, finishing along Ocean Avenue.

To successfully pull of this road race, we will need a host of volunteers. New this year, the first 25 volunteers will get a free gold “volunteer” tech shirt as our thank you to you. We can’t do it without you. All we ask is two hours of your time.. No experience is necessary, and as they say, many hands make light (and happy) work! Please email Maureen McEnaney at [email protected]  to volunteer!

Just another perk of membership: Open Swims!

Twice a day we open up the pool for supervised open swims. All children ages 4 and older, enrolled in other KBIA classes that week, may participate. Please join us between 12 and 12:30 PM and then again between 3:30 and 4 PM Monday through Friday. Cannonball!

Got bathrooms? (or just a changing room?)

Need a bathroom break? Two public restrooms are located behind Smith House. If all you need is a place to change into your bathring suit, please use one of the four family-sized changing rooms located in the back of the white Adventures Tent.

Friendly reminders

Any unattended vehicle parked in the drop-off/pick-up zones in front of the pool area may be ticketed by Kennebunk police. Two years ago we created the new zone to ease transition from car to campus, and we appreciate your cooperation in helping us move traffic along in that section. Longer-term parking is available along the fence or at the beach with a Town of Kennebunk beach sticker.

When dropping off your child, please advise the instructor who will pick him/her up. If a child arrives on his/her own, we will release the child on their own at the end of class. For bundled classes, counselors will relay pick-up/drop-off information to the pick-up counselor. 

This week  at KBIA

TWEEN NIGHT: Mini Golf at Wonder Mountain Fun Park and Big Daddy’s ice cream, Wells. 6 to 8 PM Tuesday. $22.

MOVIE NIGHT: “Tinkerbelle and the Great Fairy Rescue” at Smith House, 7 to 9 PM Wednesday. $7.

TEEN NIGHT*: Mini Golf at Wonder Mountain Fun Park and Big Daddy’s ice cream, Wells. 6 to 8 PM
Tuesday. $22.

OPEN SAIL/KAYAK: 9 AM to 1 PM Saturday. Free and open to members.

* Please note Teen Night will be held Tuesday this week because of the July 4 holiday. Register for all events at the office or pay at the door for Movie Night.

PDF version

Welcome summer!

Welcome back to the Beach! We’re thrilled you’re along for the ride this summer. We have had a great opening week so far, welcoming new faces and welcoming back the familiar as well, and we’re excited for more fun under the sun at KBIA. If you didn’t get a chance to join us last Sunday for a celebratory swing at our playground grand opening, please check it out and enjoy this new gift to our community. We encourage you to read on about some of the fun things we have planned this season, and join us when you can! See you at the Beach.

Play on! KBIA opens playground in grand fashion

As we came together to raise funds, and as we did to build it, KBIA and our greater community gathered together Sunday to ceremoniously open the new KBIA Playground at Mother’s Beach.

After Executive Director Martin Lodish offered his thanks — to donors, volunteers, staff, the Town of Kennebunk, Steve Dibble, Andrew Rimmer, Bowley Builders, George Burr & Son, and Richard Roy Masonry as well as Bennett’s, the Kennebunkport Resort Collection, Dunkin’ Donuts, Sysco and Kellogg, and Hannaford Kennebunk — Kennebunk Selectman and KBIA neighbor William Ward cut the ribbon, assisted by Kennebunk- Kennebunkport-Arundel Chamber of Commerce representatives Suzanne McKechnie and Stephanie Kelley.

So named the Kennebunk Beach Improvement Association, it has always been KBIA’s mission to improve the beach and our community’s experience there. As this project comes to a close, proudly we say, “mission accomplished!”

This week at KBIA

TWEEN NIGHT: Magician Norman NG at the Kennebunk Free Library, followed by ice cream at Dairy Queen, 6 to 8 PM Tuesday. $22.

MOVIE NIGHT: “Peter Pan” at Smith House, 7 to 9 PM Wednesday. $7.

TEEN NIGHT: “Welcome Back BBQ” food and beach games, 7 to 9 PM Thursday. $22.

 Please register for all events at the office; or pay at the door for Movie Night.

CLYNK for KBIA

CLYNK is yet another way to help preserve our earth and help KBIA at the same time! We now have those green bags available at our office for members to pick up, fill with returnables, and redeem them at the Kennebunk Hannaford (or any CLYNK redemption center). Proceeds from KBIA-tagged bags will benefit our nonprofit organization.

CLYNK is a Maine recycling company with an innovative bottle redemption system offered exclusively in Hannaford supermarkets in Maine. CLYNK’s mission is to make recycling easier, to offer educational resources focused on recycling and to show customers how their personal recycling positively impacts our environment.

Just another perk of membership: Open sail/kayak weekends!

We invite members of all ages to enjoy KBIA’s spectacular waterfront during our scheduled “Open Sail” sessions, which are available to all KBIA members (parents, grandparents and children) who would like to independently enjoy the Cove in one of KBIA’s sailboats or kayaks. Previous sailing and kayaking experience is required, as well as a life jacket and closed-toe water shoes.

Saturday, June 29………………………………………. 2 to 5 PM

Saturday, July 6…………………………………………. 9 AM to 1  PM

Saturday, July 13……………………………………….. 1 to 5 PM

Sunday, July 14…………………………………………. 2 to 5 PM

Sunday, July 21…………………………………………. 9 AM to 1 PM

Saturday, July 27……………………………………….. 1 to 5 PM

Sunday, July 28…………………………………………. 2 to 5 PM

Saturday, August 3…………………………………….. 9 AM to 12 PM

Saturday, August 10…………………………………… 12 to 5 AM

Sunday, August 11…………………………………….. 1 to 5 PM

Explore the Cove on guided walk

This summer’s first Cove Walk will be held Sunday. Families are invited to come explore the majestic Cove at low tide with our guide and see what natural treasures you will find! Cost is $10 per family; please register at the office prior to the walk.

Sunday, June 30 … 11 AM to 1 PM

Sunday, July 21 … 3 to 5 PM

Saturday, Aug. 3 … 2 to 4 PM

(click here for the PDF version)

WE GIVE THANKS

At KBIA, we have so much for which to be thankful: a beautiful seaside lot and property, 102 years of tradition and, of course, our KBIA family. We thank you for your loyal support and dedication again this year as together we continue to carry out our mission at the beach. Each of us — staff, counselors, children, board members, volunteers and donors — have played a role in our success, and we thank you for your contributions. This Thanksgiving, we are truly grateful for you! Thank you!

Give the gift of KBIA: Store will be open Sunday, Dec. 2

In town for Prelude ? We invite you to stop by KBIA between 12 and 2 PM Sunday, Dec. 2, when we will open the store for holiday shopping. This is your opportunity to stock up on our exclusive KBIA merchandise that will keep you warm — and dreaming of warm summer days ahead. We have fleece jackets, sweatshirts and sweatpants, as well as Sea Bags, sailing shirts, towels, umbrellas and more! Cash, check, Visa and MasterCard will be accepted.

Thanks for giving

In this season of giving, we have a unique opportunity to double our impact. An anonymous KBIA family has stepped up to match every donation made to our ongoing playground fund, meaning they will match every dollar we receive, up to $25,000. Our Board of Directors will meet on Dec. 17 and, based on cash in hand, will decide whether or not to move forward or not on the project this spring.

If we collectively meet the challenge, the $50,000 boost would put us right near our goal of raising the necessary $105,000 to replace the playground equipment! Currently, we have collected $18,000 in new donations since the challenge was issued.

If you plan on donating to this worthy cause, now is the time to donate. Until December 17, your donation will, in effect, make double the impact. Thanks for giving!

News from our Executive Director

Kennebunk Beach and the Maine Coast have long been a destination – not just for those that are seeking an ideal spot to vacation or live, but artists seeking to document the rugged beauty of our coast. Perhaps none is as iconic as Winslow Homer. The Portland Museum of Art is currently holding a wonderful exhibit, ” Weatherbeaten: Winslow Homer in Maine,” so if you are in town for Prelude, it is definitely worth the trip. Additionally, the museum just renovated Homer’s studio on Prout’s Neck and it is open for tours.  It books up very quickly, so if this interests you, I recommend that you book a date as soon as you know your summer plans for 2013. Currently, they are booking the spring season, which runs from April 2 to June 13.

 ~ Martin Lodish

To see the PDF version of our October 22 newsletter, click here.

Looking ahead

Like to look on the sunny side of life? In 244 days, KBIA will open for its 103rd season. That’s June 24, and our new 2013 event calendar is also booked with many other exciting events, such as our Seaside Celebration and community road race. Please note we are still consulting the tide charts to determine the best weekends to hold the Cove Swim and the Reid Sacco Family Regatta. Stay tuned!

Membership Letter mailed and posted on www.kbia.net                   January 31 

Staff openings, Counselor Applications posted on www.kbia.net       January 31

Registration Guide mailed and posted on www.kbia.net                   March 30

Playground built by volunteers (pending funding)                             June 7-9

KBIA Office opens                                                                      June 17

Staff & Counselor Orientation Weekend                                         June 22-23

Playground Opening (pending funding)                                           June 23

KBIA Opening Day                                                                      June 24

“A Day at the Beach” 22nd annual Road Race                               July 7

Seaside Celebration                                                                   July 20

Sixth annual Cove Swim                                                             TBD

Fourth annual Reid Sacco Family Regatta                                    TBD

Last day of classes at KBIA                                                         August 16

Annual KBIA Membership Meeting                                                August 17

Newsletters go digital

When you’re 103 years old, tradition is important … KBIA is the thriving organization today because of its long and lively history. While we honor our traditions, we also try to embrace new ideas. Such is the case with our traditional newsletters, which used to be printed and mailed every spring and fall to members in our off-season. Instead, in the future, we will be sending more frequent updates in the form of this e-newsletter, which are much more timely for you and efficient for our staff to produce. Paperless newsletters also promote our mission to help lessen our environmental impact! We hope you like them and will share them (via e-mail or the Facebook button below), and if you like to print them out, you can find the same content in PDF form on our website , under “Latest News.” If you, or anyone you know, would prefer a hard copy mailed to your home, please let us know!

Playground update: Can you ‘swing’ it?

In just two weeks, the playground fund has collected $11,500 in new donations, bringing the current project balance to $49,100. This generosity comes as a result of an anonymous family donor’s offer earlier this month to match all new donations dollar for dollar, up to $25,000 total. The need is great, and the time to donate is now. Our Board of Directors will next meet on Dec. 15 to discuss this project, and they will only approve the plan if KBIA has the cash in hand. If we collectively meet the challenge, the $50,000 boost would put us right near our goal of raising the necessary $105,000 to replace the playground equipment! If you plan on donating to this worthy cause, now is the time to donate . Until December 15, your donation will, in effect, make double the impact! For information on how to donate, visit www.kbia.net.

To see the PDF version of our October 2012 newsletter, click here …

New playground at the Beach? It’s within reach!

A generous KBIA family has issued a challenge to KBIA members and the larger Kennebunk community: donate now toward the playground fund, and they will match every donation, up to an additional $25,000, dollar for dollar! That means every donation to the playground will count double! We have until the end of the year to be eligible for the funds, so we ask all families to consider a gift at this time.

With your help, by the beginning of next summer our kids could be swinging by the sea and or climbing high to the sky on new equipment. As designed, the new playground will include two separate clusters of activities for young and older children that provide clear lines of vision for caretakers. With blue and tan structures, the playground will also complement the neighborhood with its nautical theme. To see the playground design, please visit www.kbia.net

 A $50,000 boost would put us right around our goal of raising $105,000 to replace the current aging equipment with all-new structures appropriate for all ages. Can you “swing” it? Please consider making a donation — any amount will help! All donations can be mailed to KBIA, P.O. Box 707, Kennebunk, ME 04043.

 In addition, KBIA is able to accept stock donations. The process allows the donor to deduct the full pre-tax value of appreciated shares. If you would like to make a donation of appreciated stock, please contact Executive Director Martin Lodish directly at [email protected] or call (207) 967-2180.

Got mail?

You should have by now received KBIA’s annual directory, which contains members’ addresses and contact information as well as a list of KBIA award-winners. This year we pushed back our publication date from midsummer to the end of the season in an effort to include all 2012 member families. We publish this information so families may stay in touch with their KBIA friends and family throughout the year.

In the history books

KBIA is steeped in tradition. Take a look at our list of winners’ names from our July and August awards ceremonies, for example, and you will see a lot of familiar names of multiple generations through the years. New on the KBIA website is a recording of such names (as printed in our 2012 Membership Directory) and we now have the listing online under the “History” tab.

Always in fashion

Summer or winter, spring or fall, KBIA wear is always in season! While, of course, we are closed for the season, we can help you e-order just the right shirt, sweatshirt, fleece, hat, umbrella, Sea Bag or belt. Just ask! E-mail us or call us, or make an appointment if you’re in town. Check, Visa and Mastercard are accepted.

To read the final weekly newsletter of the season, click here.

And that’s a wrap!

Miss us yet? We sure miss all of you — all 329 member families to be exact — who made the Summer of 2012 one to remember! We trust you and your families are settling into the school routine and KBIA factors fondly into those back-to-school “What I Did Over Summer Vacation” essays. Though summer seems like a distant memory in some ways, we at KBIA keep our organization close to our hearts year-round as we work to improve on a great thing. Below is a season wrap-up as well as a look ahead at some of the projects we are working on in the off-season. Be sure to check our progress on our website and/or facebook page throughout the year!

2012: A record-breaking year!

We had a record year this summer at KBIA, with more families than ever enjoying our summer programming. Last year we closed out the 2011 season with record-breaking 298 member families, and this year we have 329 member families on record. That’s a 10 percent increase, and we thank you for helping spread the word about us! KBIA is such a unique experience, and we think every child deserves a little “magic” in their summer. As you have a chance to reflect on KBIA memories, what did you and your family like most? What can we improve on next year? In the spirit of open dialogue, we want to know how we may serve you and new members even better in the future. We invite you to gather your thoughts and send them to Executive Director Martin Lodish.

Taking over the helm at KBIA

A nonprofit seasonal organization, KBIA couldn’t run without the year-round efforts of its volunteer Board of Directors. In addition to working behind the scenes on everything from policy to the playground, members also meet as a group quarterly to help steer the organization toward greatness.

We’d like to thank this year’s Board of Directors for their dedication and hours of selfless service in making KBIA the organization it is, now 102 years old. We especially want to recognize our outgoing President Dave Stevenson, pictured above, who led the Board of Directors from 2010 to 2012. We also appreciate the heart and soul put into running this organization by those board members who led us through a time of transition several years ago and this August completed their full terms: Ralph Chauvin, Kathleen O’Donnell DiNisco, and Priscilla Doris-Siegal. Thanks, too, to board members Lisa LaBrique and Betsy Dawson, who have stepped down this year!

Our future looks bright, and we are confident in the new leadership of Seana Wood, above, a mother of three KBIA kids who calls New York City home. She takes on the role of president for a two-year term, assisted by several new members:

~ Brian Campbell from Bethesda Md.

~ David Keating from Toronto;

~ Pierre Monaghan from Montreal;

~ Julie Wolfson Stockman from LA; and

~ MM Shore Tornga from California.

And the winners are:

Always a bittersweet ending to a season, we concluded our 2012 with KBIA’s biannual BBQ & Awards ceremony on Aug. 18. All children received participation ribbons, some received KBIA “wedges” or plaques for those who exemplify the KBIA spirit in attitude and accomplishment, while a select few earned their way into KBIA history. For these top honors, winners’ names are engraved on our traditional “silver ware,” which are on display in the office for all to see. Those winners were:

Hartley Lord Cup for Seamanship: Jimmy Mitchell

Eagle Rock Yacht Club Officer’s Cup: Marguerite Montagner

Eagle Rock Yacht Club Hartley Lord Cup: Julianne Puckette

Eagle Rock Yacht Club Friendship Cup: Taylor Mullen

Sisters Gerold and Vincent Art Award: Jessie Cardinal

Feldman Art Award: Margaret Russell

Keepers of the Cove: Andrew Burke, Caleb Hofmann and Harry Stevenson

Cornelia Smith Swimming Award: Emily Scire

Griswold Tray: Halley Peterson and Alex Kozikowski

Jane Wydra Award: Anna Dedrick

President’s Cup: Teddy Dawson

Waterhouse Cup: Alex Dion

Calder Cup: Maureen McEnaney

A grand finale

Ronda Verges’ Drama class brought to life the story of Slim Pickins on stage at KBIA, serving as a grand finale to the 2012 season on Aug. 17. KBIA teacher Tony Viehmann, on hand to see his story in action, was thrilled with the production: “That was such a fun time for me and I hope the kids enjoyed it as much as I did!” he said.

Published just this summer, Tony’s colorful children’s story follows the antics of a pesky pick-pocketing sea gull named Slim and beachgoers’ attempts to thwart his bad habits.

“The Shenanigans of Slim Pickins” sells for $12.95 at Kennebooks and Marlow’s in Kennebunk, as well as Day Trip Society Jr. in Kennebunkport.

It’s in the mail!

One of the great things about KBIA is the variety of places from which we all come, all united by our love for KBIA. Children make new friends and those friends become pen pals until they meet at KBIA again. Parents, too, meet new friends through the years and want to stay in touch in the off-season. To foster such friendships, we annually publish a Membership Directory with families’ names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mails — in other words, everything children and their parents need to stay in touch. Following tradition, it also includes a listing of winners’ names from our July and August awards ceremonies. The directory is in production right now, and members will receive the booklet in the mail by early October.

Where is Strawberry Island? Our new sign marks the spot!

Did you know KBIA also owns a sliver of land on Great Hill Road, which provides access to Strawberry Island? We now have a sign that marks the .34-acre rocky plot at 38 Great Hill Road, right next to the small plot owned by the Kennebunk Land Trust. While our children more commonly visit the island by walking directly over the sand at low tide, the rocky island is also accessible to the public via our “Gateway to Strawberry Island.”

Want to work at KBIA next year?

Thinking ahead to next year, we will begin the hiring process for Counselors and the application process for CITs next January; applications will be posted on our website.

Maureen McEnaney

To see the KBIA newsletter for August 13, click here.