INDIANAPOLIS – During the week of July 6, cities around the country will hold events to raise awareness of the importance of high-quality summer learning opportunities in the lives of youth and their families. The week’s activities will culminate with Summer Learning Day on July 9, an annual national event organized by the National Center for Summer Learning at The Johns Hopkins University to focus attention on how quality summer learning programs help close the achievement gap and promote healthy development.
In Indianapolis, Mayor Greg Ballard will declare July 9 ‘Summer Learning Day’ and Deputy Mayor Nick Weber will participate in a local celebration event at the Horizons Urban Student Enrichment Program located at St. Richard’s School. Part of the celebration event will include a “Readers are Leaders” special performance where Deputy Mayor Weber and other community leaders will each read a few pages from the Dr. Seuss book, Oh The Places You’ll Go!”
“Indianapolis is proud to join with the Summer Youth Program Fund, the National Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University, and the Marion County Commission on Youth, Inc. to recognize and promote summer learning activities for young people,” said Mayor Ballard. “Beyond providing a positive atmosphere and encouraging growth and maturity, these activities can also help prevent crime among our young people by engaging them in meaningful programs that can lead to a brighter future.”
Just this year, the City, along with the Indianapolis Private Industry Council, secured over $3 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to organize YouthWorks Indy, a program for young adults focused on education, employment and work readiness.
Additionally, the City of Indianapolis Department of Parks and Recreation provides quality learning experiences for the youth of Indianapolis year-round. During the summer months, Indy Parks operates 11 Day Camps and eight play programs at facilities throughout Indianapolis for up to nine weeks each.
These programs offer a wide variety of opportunities for the campers, including participation in the Marion County Public Library Summer Reading program. Many sites have daily storytelling activities.
Indy Parks integrates the arts into its day camps with visiting artists in both visual and performance arts. Campers participate in weekly field trips to museums, the Indianapolis Zoo and other educational destinations. Health and fitness education is incorporated daily into the campers’ busy schedules, as recreation, swimming and sports are additional components of the camps. Indy Parks also offers more than $40,000 in camp scholarships to qualifying families.
WHO:
THE CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS, THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM FUND,
THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR SUMMER LEARNING AT JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY AND THE MARION COUNTY COMMISSION ON YOUTH, INC.
WHAT:
JULY 9 SUMMER LEARNING DAY CELEBRATION
WHERE:
HORIZONS URBAN STUDENT ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
ST. RICHARD’S SCHOOL
33 E. 33RD ST.
WHEN:
THURSDAY JULY 9, 2009
3:30 P.M.
