See 'Photos' at left for pictures from First State Community Action Agency's July 30 End-of-Summer celebration program.
The 5-week summer enrichment program which began June 29 provided local youth of different backgrounds/cultures with educational, recreational, social, and character building activities throughout the summer. Youth participated different classes and activities including Kids USA course (a prevention and self esteem workshop), the ALLSTARS program (which focuses on prevention for at risk youth and character building), Spanish enrichment, a week-long cooking program (funded by the Department of Labor), drama and art classes, reading and computer classes, trivia challenges, sports and other physical fitness activities. Weekly field trips were among the favorites of summer activities.
Camp participants visited the Naval Academy, Abbott’s Mills, Fort Delaware, Killen’s Pond, Trap Pond, and the Delaware State Fair. To be sure students learned while having fun, trips were coupled with educational activities, craft projects, and games before, during, and after each trip.
One unique facet about the camp was its strong emphasis on fostering diversity through increased cultural awareness and integration, a mandate set as a result of a merge between two of First State’s community-based youth programs. Students studied the cultures of various countries and created art projects, cultural dishes, and musical and dramatic performances associated with these cultures.
Joe McCarron, Program Coordinator of the La Casita Hispanic program and co-coordinator of the summer camp, said, “Our goal was to create a program that would not only focus on recreation, education, and self-development, but also have all the benefits of learning and social interaction that diversity yields.”
