After the year we’ve all had, who’s ready for a little fun in the sun with friends? NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley is excited to announce enrollment is open for our 2021 Summer Youth Programs!
Here at NWBRV we recognize the intrinsic need for child development and college preparation for our youth. While working alongside families, educators and community partners, we provide school aged youth a safe environment to develop the fundamental skills they need to pave their own individual paths for success. Our summer programs offer families the perfect opportunity to provide children with a full summer of fun learning experiences while procuring reliable child care.
Mother/daughter duo, Jeanne and Aubrey Michon, brilliantly captured the benefits of the Summer Learning Initiative, a United Way funded program that takes place at the C3 Center located in Woonsocket.
“My favorite aspect of the program is the welcoming feeling the program offers my daughter,” Jeanne expressed. “Knowing all safety precautions regarding COVID 19 were in place last summer, while still affording my daughter the opportunity to learn and grow with a great group of instructors and other kids, was invaluable.”
Fourteen year old Aubrey added enthusiastically, “I liked how nice the teachers were and how fun the classes were! And there were a lot of different kids!”
NWBRV summer youth programs offer participants a wide variety of enrichment activities.
This summer’s Art Center program will serve students in grades K-5, Monday-Friday from 6:30 am to 6 pm. Our creative and highly qualified teaching staff will lead students through interactive math and reading sessions, art and music activities, and and a wide variety of outdoor and physical fitness/wellness activities. In one day your child can do everything from reading to rock climbing! Summer Camp at the Art Center costs $200 per week. Most families are eligible for a voucher from DCYF to cover the cost.
“The most unique experience I had with camp was being allowed to participate in a drumming class,” Jeanne shared. “I had blisters from banging so hard and long, but the smiles and laughter were very much worth it—especially to see my daughter getting into her groove! She had cultural experiences with music and dances she would not have been able to experience in our neighborhood, helping her expand her horizons.”
“And I learned how to do things like fish, things that I wouldn’t ordinarily do!” Aubrey added. “I met new people and I was able to learn about different cooking ideas and recipes. And we learned how to clean up the environment!”
Right across the street, Summer Camp for 6-9th graders occurs Monday through Friday from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm at C3 Center. This program includes fun enrichment activities like canoeing and cooking coupled with volunteer work. The diverse team of teachers incorporate literacy, science, and math throughout the day’s activities. Woodworking class becomes a math lesson in angles. Fishing involves a science experiment in water purity. Field Trips include pre-trip research on the location. This program is provided free of cost thanks to the generosity of the United Way’s Summer Learning Initiative.
The Summer Learning Initiative allowed myself and my husband the freedom to work without concern of what our child was doing, where she was, was she safe, was she supervised. These programs provided peace of mind while also knowing she was actually learning.”
Jeanne Michon
Applications can be found here.
Any additional questions, please contact Monique Austin, College Ready Communities Director at 401-762-0993, ext. 233 or maustin@neighborworksbrv.org.
