Parish and school camps keep kids learning

School may be out for the summer, but that's not stopping some kids from spending their vacations learning.

From the suburbs to the inner city, more than 500 young people are spending the summer months in educationally based programs affiliated with Catholic elementary schools, high schools and colleges in the Albany Diocese.

For example, approximately 160 sixth through tenth graders are participating in the College of Saint Rose's Summer Academy for Youth. Participants can choose from 14 course offerings, including drama, band, creative writing, computers and American Sign Language.

Zest to learn

In its fifth year, the program has been attracting more and more young people each summer.

"Our enrollment has increased over the five years," said Rebecca Gabos, assistant for special programs in the Graduate, Adult and Continuing Education Office of the College of Saint Rose. "We found there really is a need for this age group. There's not a lot of activities for them. Students in the program return year after year. That tells us parents and students are pleased by the program."

The program provides young people the opportunity to focus on an area of interest they might have -- as well as experience a college campus, Ms. Gabos said. It also gives parents an organized activity for their children.

"Parents who work can take them some place where they'll be safe and learn," she explained.

Thumbs up

The program is also flexible. Young people can be enrolled for just one week or for all six weeks the program is offered. Young people can focus on one area, like acting, or they can mix and match such courses as writing and creating a web page.

Students said they enjoy focusing on their area of interest.

Henna Boolchandani, a 10-year-old participant in the drama program, said, "I like getting actual experience in a real production and getting to play my part."

Enrichment

Catholic Central High School in Troy offers Summer Enrichment '98 for youth in grades five through 11.

Sponsored by a legislative grant from the State of New York, the program is free for young people in the community, explained Mark Stephens, science department chair at the school and coordinator of the summer program. Approximately 75 young people are enrolled.

The enrichment program offers courses in history, theater, design, music and math, as well as recreational games and sports. One course has participants constructing a scale-model Mars colony; another combines math and architecture.

Pluses

The benefits of participation in a summer program are varied. "Getting them off the sofa is a noble objective," said Dr. Stephens. "It keeps the mind sharp and keeps them engaged in learning. This helps with the transition from grade to grade."

While there are educational benefits, summer programs also meet a parental need.

"We're no longer in an age where children can play in their own neighborhoods," explained Dr. Stephens. "Society has changed and children's lives are more structured. There is some little daycare piece to our program."

Parental option

Daycare is an important aspect of the summer program at St. James Institute in Albany. In its second year, the program provides activities for children from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

"It has to do with [there being] a lot of single-parent families," said Ronnie Clark, director of the program. Parents no longer have the option of sending their children to a neighbor's house because, in most cases, the neighbors are also working.

For $100 a week from June 22 until Sept. 4, students participate in academics, arts and crafts, field trips to the library and city parks, and activities with the DARE officer.

While providing a service to parents, the program also keeps students involved in learning over the summer. "We do it to keep their hand in it and their mind focused on it," Ms. Clark said. "It gives them a jump start for the next school year."

Summer in city

Another summer program also strives to meet both the daycare and educational needs of children. Summer in the City, sponsored by diocesan Catholic Charities, the Center City Cluster parishes and diocesan Hispanic Outreach Services, serves 150 children at two locations: the Neighborhood Community Center and the Regional School at St. Casimir.

Sister Maureen Murphy, CSJ, parish social minister at St. Casimir, said the program includes math, reading, Spanish, arts and crafts, and physical education. The children also go swimming at Camp Scully.

The program, which runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., includes breakfast and lunch. Tuition is $125, although there is a sliding scale.

Something extra

Some see summer as a time when children can experience the enrichment activities that can't be fit into the normal school day. St. Luke's School in Schenectady is hosting its first summer program, which includes 20 students in grades one through six.

"Several parents requested this," said Sister Ann Christi Brink, CSJ, principal. "They wanted extra for the children."

St. Luke's program focuses on religion, math, reading and language arts skills, and provides students with remediation or enrichment. The program includes a study of whales, time on the computer, as well as field trips to the library and the planetarium. There were also trips to Schenectady's Central Park with the school's DARE officer.

"We're able to do things that you can't do with a large number of students," Sister Ann said. "It's more fun for them. Our hope is this will stimulate them. We're reviewing learning skills over the summer. This is an additional help to families. It helps to keep children stimulated and enriched."

Filling a need

Keeping children stimulated is not a far-fetched goal. "We have research that says there is a regression [in learning ability] from June to September," said Thomas Fitzgerald, assistant superintendent of schools for the Albany Diocese. "Summer programs reduce the regression."

While summer camps used to be a way to keep children occupied during the summer months, they are now a way to extend learning and motivate students, he said.

"We're looking at learning differently now," he explained. "The left side of the brain is more academic. We deal with that nicely in school. The right side is more intuitive, creative and hands-on. We can deal with that in summer programs."

Different styles

Many of the summer programs being held in the Albany Diocese are tuned into the fact that children all have different learning styles. Some learn from seeing, others are auditory, and still others are hands-on. The summer programs give children the opportunity to experience multisensory learning in a relaxed atmosphere, Dr. Fitzgerald said.

The end result is that children have the opportunity to succeed in an educational environment -- and that motivates them to learn.

"Summer programs give children more of an opportunity to achieve," he said. "Children are more motivated in the summer because of the different activities, and this spills into the academic year."

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