Summer 2019 at the YMCA meant swimming, crafts, games, character development and plenty of new friends. Thanks to the support of our corporate partners, it also meant academic support and enrichment opportunities for children of all ages across the Triangle.
Early Learning
With an emphasis on early childhood education, the PNC Foundation is committed to school readiness for all children. As the exclusive sponsor of Kindercamp at Camp High Hopes, PNC provided support for a half-day summer camp for rising kindergarten students at a number of sites across the Triangle. Campers participated in traditional camp activities as well as overall school readiness including literacy skills, color recognition, fine motor skills, and social competence. Thanks to the support of the PNC Foundation, these children gained the skills they need to succeed in kindergarten this fall.
Preventing the Summer Slide
The Duke Energy Foundation is committed to combating summer learning loss through its support of the YMCA’s Camp High Hopes. Most students lose two months of math skills in the summer, and low-income children lose two to three months of reading skills. At Camp High Hopes, campers in grades K-8 received one hour of academic instruction each day from a certified teacher to maintain and improve their literacy skills over the summer. They also enjoyed swimming lessons, sports, crafts, character development, and a healthy lunch. Support from the Duke Energy Foundation ensures that these campers return to school ready to take on the year.
Learning to Lead
The Bank of America Student Leaders program is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to youth employment and economic mobility. The YMCA of the Triangle hosted four high school students for an eight-week internship through the Bank of America Student Leaders program. These students tackled the issue of equity in the community. Building upon the work of the 2018 Student Leaders who created a food pantry at Walnut Creek Elementary School, this year’s Student Leaders expanded the food pantry into a resource center. Families at the school can now access cooking classes, financial literacy, and clothing. The Student Leaders partnered with other nonprofit organizations to host a resource fair and created partnerships to ensure that the resource center is sustainable into the future.
From preschool to high school, the YMCA makes summer learning fun. Our corporate sponsors and partners make these programs possible.
