Web site features community activities, do-it-yourself summer camp
May 16, 2005
SARA EMILY LONG
Special to The Herald
MANATEE - Denise Grolly-Case saw opportunity lurking in her own curiosity about family events in
Manatee County.
She developed the Web site WhatsHappeningManatee¬.com in March as a way to guide parents to
free or low-cost community activities offered here.
Grolly-Case, mother of Markus and Jenna, wanted her brainchild to be a no-brainer for parents to find
existing resources.
"The key is to be able to have the information available all in one place," she said.
Easy access to community resources was a given for Grolly-Case and her husband, Garth, a former
U.S. Army captain, who both benefited from a military support network wherever they lived around the
world.
Re-entering civilian life in Bradenton in 2002 "was quite a shock," she said. Without the military
network, she had to do all her own community research. She knew other parents would seek the
information, which was the impetus for the Web site.
"WhatsHappeningManatee
.com is dedicated to providing parents and caregivers easy access to family resources in Manatee
County," she said. "We strive to be the place where busy families can access information quickly and
conveniently."
The first "Do-It-Yourself" Summer Camp was created soon after. With the Web site as its home page,
Grolly-Case designed a virtual school bulletin board where parents can log on weekly to find out about
summer activities, events and projects for parents and children to do together. A new topic will be
introduced every week for 10 weeks beginning May 30.The target age for children is 10 and younger.
"Basically, my job is to see the big picture and to organize it into themes," said Grolly-Case. "The whole
premise behind the summer camp is to keep things simple and to utilize the incredible resources we
already have in place in the community."
The Web site relies on collaboration. And while a valuable resource for families, it also benefits local
businesses, agencies and professionals who work with families.
As president of her own company, Families Matter LLC, Grolly-Case is a self-described parent
educator with an undergraduate degree in special education and psychology and a master's in human
relations, emphasizing adult education and counseling.
"My diverse background gives me an understanding of how children and their parents respond and
cope in today's environment," she said.
Some parents are coping quite well with the Web site even before summer camp begins. Maria
Richardson, of Bradenton, has been visiting the site weekly since March. "It's great," Richardson said. "I
just print out the whole page."
Richardson said she previously heard about family activities through fliers or by meeting other moms in
the park. But the Web site has proved more efficient, she said. "I'm now doing more activities with my
children than I ever did before," she said.
Cynthia Francis of Bradenton has a child nearing preschool age, so she needs information aimed at
that age group.
"The site has a preschool section that tells what things to look for when selecting a preschool and
questions to ask," Francis said. "How else would I know?"
Many businesses will use the Web site to advertise their presence in the community, but others are
creating special events to highlight products and services, said Grolly-Case. "If you have something
going on, send it to me, and I'll make it fit," she said.
Little Bookworms, a children's bookstore in Lakewood Ranch that opened in February, is a
Do-It-Yourself Summer Camp partner, contributing ideas, resources and time.
"We have different books selected for all 10 weeks of camp, and they are available for purchase at our
store during reading time," said Heidi Allwood, who co-owns the bookstore with her mother. The
bookstore will also recommend weekly reading for three age groups.
Another Do-It-Yourself partner, Resource Connection for Kids, is a nonprofit organization under
Manatee County's Opportunity Council.
"I'll be offering simple crafts, directions and recipes geared to each week's topic," said Sue Davies,
Resource Connection's librarian.
Davies was already aware that the Web site was effective as an advertising venue.
"I have a mom who comes in once a week for Make and Take. She was born and raised in this area,"
Davies said. "And she told me there are things on the site that even she wasn't aware were offered by
the county."
Make and Take is a class offered by Resource Connection on the first Thursday of the month.
"Parents who come in will be taught a craft which they then take home and teach to their children,"
Davies said.
South Florida Museum's Jeff Rodgers has gone above and beyond "by pulling together resources to
offer for the entire week of Under the Sea," Grolly-Case said. "I don't know how he did it, but he's
offering parents free admission."
Rose Malerba Parsons, co-owner of the Sarasota Bradenton International Convention Center, is
another sponsor. She remembers meeting Grolly-Case at the Manatee Chamber of Commerce and
being offered free event advertising on the Web site.
"I think this is definitely a big value to the community," said Parsons, who is pleased that the summer
camp is open to all children.
According to Parsons, it's Grolly-Case's attitude that will make the difference. "I see it being a success
because of Denise's energy level and her desire to make it work."
Grolly-Case divides people into three categories: "Those that make things happen, those that watch
what happens, and those that ask, 'What just happened?' "
As a true mother of invention, Grolly-Case's category is clear.
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