Youngest Residents Learning About Their Town

In addition to the traditional ballet, cooking, tumbling or "Mommy-and-me" classes for little ones, Barnegat Township Recreation has been offering something a little different for its youngest residents.

In "Learn About Our Barnegat Neighbors," a 9-week seasonal program, children 3 1/2 to 5 years old take short 45-minute daytrips around the Barnegat Community Center and the Township Building. Visiting a different place each time, the kids get a better idea of how their town works from catching glimpses of different professionals, from hair stylists and chiropractors at the neighboring business plaza, to firefighters and township employees.

"We want to introduce them to things that are going on in town," said instructor Kathy Herring. "Show them the life around the recreation center, make them aware that police officers are nice, and help them learn why their parents go to town hall."

"Also, seeing all these people do their jobs around town gives them ideas of what they might want to do one day," said assistant instructor Christina Moccia.

Herring, 50 and Moccia, 24, both of Barnegat, came up with the idea for the class together. It has been running since the fall of 2010, and the kids seem to love it, Herring and Moccia say.

"It is a very popular class, and it fills up quickly," Herring said.

"We've been coming here for years," said Diane Zaccagna, 39, whose five-year-old son is one of the returning students. "We've been to all the 'Barnegat Neighbors' classes before -- and it's his favorite."

The class trips include a visit of Genuardi's, Dazzlz hair salon, Marchioni's Pizza, Sub Busters and a local chirporactor. The kids also visit the police department, the municipal courtroom and the township's various offices, where they get their timecards punched and see the images of their homes pulled up on a computer screen.

While the spring class is full, "Barnegat Neighbors" is offered every season, except winter, and costs $36 for nine weeks.