Camp—It's not just for fun (but it is a lot of that too!)

At the Y, we believe that all kids deserve the opportunity to discover who they are and what they can achieve. As part of the Y’s strategic plan, 2020 Vision, the Y intends to nurture the potential of 50,000 youth and teens by measurably improving the academic performance of children in YMCA programs, expanding opportunities for children to go to camp, and building tomorrow’s leaders by teaching important life skills.

Y summer camp cultivates the values, skills, and relationships that lead to positive behaviors, better health, and educational achievement. While kids have new experiences and build friendships during the summer months, many also lose core knowledge and academic skills gained during the school year. Low-income students are especially vulnerable to this “summer learning loss”, typically losing two to three months of reading skills and two months of math skills over the summer. Programs such as the Power Scholars Academy at the Greenbrier Family YMCA and Escape to the Arts at The Y on Granby provide engaging summer camp experiences for at-risk youth, while specifically working to maintain math and literacy skills. The Y’s emphasis on academic achievement through learning loss prevention during the summer months continues with STEAM-focused enrichment and tutoring programs during the school year. At the Greenbrier North Family YMCA, students needing additional assistance in reading and math receive small-group tutoring through the Academic Achievers program. For 10-year-old Jonathan, the Academic Achievers program helped him dramatically improve his grades in reading and math from near-failing to being on the honor roll! By 2020, the Y aims for 75% of parents to report that their children participating in youth development programs at the Y, such as summer camp and after-school, perform half a letter grade better in school.

Learn more about the case for camp and how you can support the Y’s efforts to improve the academic performance of youth and teens through our youth development programs, check out Jonathan’s story:

Still not registered for camp? Want to finish the summer strong? Check out our camp options and reserve your spot today!