On July 2 Community Centers, Inc. of Greenwich (CCI) launched its annual summer program for children grades 2-10 who live in public or low income housing in Greenwich.
For over 40 years, CCI has been hosting youngsters in a combination summer camp and academic support program that includes both traditional pursuits such as swimming, field sports, trips to local beaches and field trips farther afield along with a focus on elementary school reading and math.
The program is completely free and runs for seven weeks.
“One of the most wonderful and amazing things that CCI alumni tell me when I meet them is that they learned to swim through CCI Summer,” says Executive Director Gaby Rattner. “Even today, for many of our kids, swimming at the YMCA or at Greenwich Point is a weekly highlight.”
However, she added, “It is very important to us that our kids head back to school in September on the same footing as their classmates.”
As a result, the academic program focuses on building and maintaining reading and math schools amidst the fun. This year CCI is partnering with several local organizations to realize these goals. From the Greenwich United Way comes training in the use of their Reading Champions initiative, which many of the youngsters participate in during the school year. CCI staff and volunteers were guided by GUW to use the materials. On another day, kids will read to dogs brought to CCI by pet therapy teams that work in area public schools, hospitals, libraries and other organizations. And one day a week, senior residents of Greenwich public housing will come to read to the children. Program participants will enjoy using iPads loaned to CCI from the Greenwich Board of Education to work on fun math skills, such as map making, budgeting and math puzzles.
“We are so grateful to all the organizations that are helping us make the 2018 Summer Program such a
success,” said Rattner.
In addition to working with the organizations providing literacy support, CCI will once again be invited to sample some of the programming at the YMCA. In addition, for the first time this year, The Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich has very generously invited CCI to use their Camp Simmons property, enabling everyone to go rock climbing, fish, go boating and enjoy other outdoor
activities.
CCI will provide breakfast and lunch to program participants through the SNAP program.
“We are part of an incredible community,” said Rattner. “And it is a privilege to collaborate with all the caring organizations that exist here to bring the best possible summer to the families we serve.”