Laura LaBarge is the town’s new recreation & youth activities director

by Rich Rosentreter

The Town of Tupper Lake recently named Laura LaBarge as the recreation and youth activities director, taking over the post previously held by Angie Snye.

The Free Press recently spoke with Mrs. LaBarge regarding her new post. She said she has plenty of experience working with the public, specifically in the Tupper Lake community and most recently working in the front office at the L.P. Quinn Elementary School.

“The experience I gained there, working with staff, students and families is truly invaluable. It has already made such a difference in the short time I’ve been working in this position,” Mrs. LaBarge said, adding that her predecessor has helped with the transition to the post. “Angie has gone above and beyond in orienting me in the procedures of the job. She set up meetings with her contacts and has encouraged me to create my own as well. Everyone in the office has been so great in welcoming me to the team.”

According to Mrs. LaBarge, skills such as working with families and members of the public will not only be a great asset, but help her be successful at her position.

“In a small, tight-knit community like Tupper Lake, cultivating connections is huge. I have strived to maintain positive relationships and open lines of communication with those I have been fortunate enough to form connections with. Being personable and enthusiastic have been important qualities, as well as being compassionate and understanding with people,” she said, adding the town’s recreation department is an essential piece of the community. “We offer activities year-round. We facilitate not only youth sports and activities, but also oversee the management of Little Wolf Beach and Campground. We offer seasonal employment for high school and college students.”

She pointed out that the recreation department also partners with ROOST, Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA), the Tupper Lake school district, the Adirondack Foundation, the Foster Grandparent Program, Goff-Nelson Memorial Library, Tupper Lake Food Pantry and Adult Center among many other local organizations, “to create a greater community experience for all ages.”

Mrs. LaBarge said that she has gained a greater appreciation for working with children through her previous experience.

“Working with children has taught me so much! Kids are real and honest; their intentions are genuine. I was able to work as a counselor this summer for the town’s day camp program. This allowed me to observe younger members of our community in a less structured setting than what I was used to. It was so neat to learn the different aspects of their personalities. Each child has something unique to offer. When you are open to their thought process, you often end up learning something new too. This is incredibly beneficial to their own learning and social development,” she said. “Watching these kids learn and grow from our shared experiences is definitely the most rewarding aspect for me.”

Mrs. LaBarge was asked about her vision for Tupper Lake’s youth programs for next year and the future.

“I have been brainstorming ideas to build on the foundation that already exists within the recreation department. We’ve started to streamline the registration process with online forms, hoping to make things easier for working parents/guardians. This option is more convenient for parents and more efficient from our perspective,” she said. “I’ve continued conversations with the athletic director from the Tupper Lake school district (Dan Brown) about enhancing our youth sport offerings for older kids. Our hope is to bridge the gap between youth and modified sports.”

Working as the recreation director won’t be without its challenges, and Mrs. LaBarge named some she will face and how she will deal with them.

“Uncertainty, doubt, fear of change. As with anything new, you just have to make the choice to power through,” she said. “I’ve learned that listening to people’s concerns with a sympathetic ear will go a long way. Keeping lines of communication open and staying enthusiastic about your goals are essential when working through challenging situations.”

Mrs. LaBarge also has some a message to both parents and the youth in the Tupper Lake community.

“To parents: Encourage your children to stay involved, to participate in something. Even if they are shy or timid, unsure or uncoordinated - I am not athletically coordinated. Youth sports teach so much more than just athletic skills. Kids gain confidence, learn what it means to be part of a team, have improved respect and self-control, instill a sense of pride in themselves - real deal life skills,” she said. “Many of our youth programs rely on the help of volunteers! Coaching kids at this level can be fairly basic, and so much helpful information is available online. Simply showing up and interacting with the players is the most important thing.”

“To teens: We are always looking for seasonal help. Lifeguard and camp counselor work experience is great on college applications and resumes. If you are unsure of the process, please reach out to me and I will gladly walk you through it.”

“To children: Try everything! You won’t know what you like until you try. Find a friend to bring along!”

Finally, the new recreation director recited the mission of her department and incorporated it into her own mission for her job.

“It is our mission to serve the youth community and the families of Tupper Lake through activities including, but not limited to, youth sports, holiday events and summer day camp. We hope to enrich the lives of these youths by engaging them in activities in a safe, positive environment,” Mrs. LaBarge said. “My parents instilled a very strong work ethic into my younger brothers and I. As a result, I have been working in some way or another since the age of nine years old, when I started taking babysitting jobs for family friends. The ideas of working hard, striving for your goals, and enjoying what you do have brought me to this point. Growing up, I was surrounded by extended family- grandmothers, aunts, uncles, cousins who always supported and encouraged me to keep going toward whichever goal, even when I didn’t want to. It was this strong, nurturing environment that cultivated the morals and values I hold dear to my heart. I believe that this is the stuff that every child should be surrounded by, and if the recreation department can offer this type of environment through sports teams, holiday events and day camp, then we’ve succeeded in our mission.”

Laura is married and along with her husband Travis, are lifelong residents of Tupper Lake. The couple has two daughters, two dogs and one cat.

“We love the Adirondacks and take full advantage of the area by hiking, fishing and camping as often as we can, although not as often as we would like!,” she said.