Free Camps Help Level Playing Field for Future US Soccer Stars, Voice of America
In Washington, D.C., a free soccer program provides a safe community, mentoring relationships, and quality sports education to low-income students. DC Scores reaches approximately 3,000 third- to eighth-grade students from 42 schools each year with both afterschool and summer programming. Students who wish to pursue soccer more competitively benefit from a partnership with D.C. United, the city’s professional soccer club, and all students benefit from service learning projects and mentorship from highly-trained coaches. “By designing a fun and safe space for the kids, DC Scores becomes an important part of kid’s identity,” executive director Bethany Henderson told Voice of America.
Young scientists get chance to teach passion at Aspen center, Aspen Times (Colorado)
In Colorado, the Aspen Science Center is empowering high school students to share their love of science with younger students. The Intern-Educator Program trains student interns, many of whom are interested in science and education-related careers, to organize STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) activities for the science center’s summer learning programs. The center hopes to expand the internships to support year-round afterschool programming. Interns showcase their personal scientific interests to younger students by designing their own demonstrations. "We really want it to be something where they also have some responsibility and some intellectual creativity," Aspen Science Center president David Houggy told the Aspen Times.
Boone County finding ways to address child care needs, Norfolk Daily News (Nebraska)
In Albion, Nebraska, the Cardinal Kid’s Club (CKC) has developed nine weeks of summer activities, from archery to pottery to gardening. Each week of the free program has its own theme, and each theme is fueled by partnerships – for example, Animals Week included a visit from a zoo representative and a trip to the local animal shelter. The summer program was created due to the popularity of the CKC afterschool program and aims to inspire students by showcasing opportunities available in the community. Both programs respond to the county’s growing need for affordable childcare, which is driven in part by young people returning to the community to raise their families. “We know this [program] is a good thing,” director Mollie Morrow told Norfolk Daily News. “We know kids are engaged and being taken care of.”
Hasbro Summer Learning Initiative ‘sneaks in learning,’ Valley Breeze (Rhode Island)
In Rhode Island, students at 14 Hasbro Summer Learning Initiative sites are maintaining their academic abilities through hands-on projects that teach valuable life skills. Designed to combat summer learning loss, the six-week program incorporates reading and math skills into fun activities like cooking, art, videography, and community service learning. The program also tracks socio-emotional growth; survey results indicate students feel challenged. “It’s empowering. The kids we have are great kids and they come back every day because they’re having fun, and we’re empowering them to be better people, both inside and out,” pre-teen program coordinator Shirley Rodriguez told the Valley Breeze.