 Well, school was out for Bemidji Area Schools today, but a few parents didn't have to worry about finding something for their kids to do thanks to a Bemidji-based after-school program. Reporter Cheryl Moore tells us about kids and company for this week's Golden Apple. School is out for conferences today for the Bemidji Area School District. So where do parents send their kids during the day? For many of them, it's all about the kids and company after-school program. The kind of way it works is just a quality after-school program for kids to come after and have homework help, hang out with their friends, safe quality spot for kids to enjoy their afternoon while their parents are still working. Kids and company is housed at all eight of the Bemidji Area Elementary Schools during the school week. On the days the district have off, all activities move to the Bemidji Middle School. The program hosts a variety of activities throughout the day, so kids have a lot of options. So they come in and they get checked in and then there are little free-choice based activities, such as arts and crafts, gym time, reading, and then they go into groups where they do group games and then they get the option to go swimming and then it's lunch and then after lunch it's usually a field trip or a movie on site and then free choice based activities in the afternoon till pick up. Today kids and company hosted around 75 kids. Throughout the rest of the school year, their numbers can vary depending on which school they're at and what time of year it is. During the summer months, however, that's when their numbers grow exponentially. They can get up to 200 kids at a time. Summer is going to be a lot more fun this year. I think we're going to try to do a little bit more field trips and get more kids' voice and child involvement into the program so that they kind of want to do what they want to do, come to our program. So yeah, that's kind of exciting things that are coming up. Kids and company also works with the schools and the building staff to determine their needs for each program day. Today, kids and company ran from 7.45 in the morning until 5.45 in night. Parents love it for the convenience. I think they just like the fact that we're involved in all aspects of the community. We're readily available so it's very easy for parents and kids to transition into our program from after school and even in the summer we're housed in sites that they're familiar with, they feel safe in. Reporting in Bemidji with this week's Golden Apple, Tralmore, Lakeland News. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.