Father Joe ’ s Villages ’ Summer Camp program includes educational and fun summer activities for children staying in their shelters and housing programs , including safe trips into the community , art projects , science experiments and learning opportunities . The expert Therapeutic Childcare staff design a summer curriculum that focuses on healthy child development , important socialization and creating life-long memories for children most in need .
“ During Summer Camp , children have the opportunity to relax and spend time with their families playing games and doing activities that are hands-on and not online ,” explains Ashley Nguyen , an Educational Coordinator of Father Joe ’ s
Bringing hope and normalcy into the lives of children in need
Villages Therapeutic Childcare . “ We also provide children with social interaction with peers their age that many of our students have been lacking as they attend school online .”
Under normal circumstances , children experiencing homelessness face far greater challenges in achieving success in school and life than children who are housed . In 2020 , when most San Diego schools limited classroom education , leaders at Father Joe ’ s Villages were determined to address the educational divide between homeless and housed children .
The “ summer slide ” is the term experts use for the learning lost during summer vacation . As a result , some schools are considering requiring summer school to help children catch up after the devastating negative impacts of 2020 ’ s unprecedented school year . The Northwest Evaluation
Association ( NWEA ), a national testing organization , reported that the average student in grades 3-8 scored 5-10 percentile points lower than students who took math assessments the year previous .
Luckily , Father Joe ’ s Villages intervened early in the pandemic to ensure that the children they serve had access to distance learning resources through a Distance Learning Lab , the assistance of an Education Coordinator , and daily education check-ins . In 2020 , 100 % of children ages 3-17 in Therapeutic Childcare improved their academic and / or life skills .
No matter the circumstances , Father Joe ’ s Villages remains committed to helping children in need address social , emotional and academic developmental milestones , which are often delayed due to homelessness . At the Therapeutic Childcare Center , Child Development specialists and Educational Coordinators offer constant educational activities and assistance to help children build a brighter future , while also providing the childhood summer of their dreams .
Summers at Father Joe ’ s Villages support healthy child development , important socialization and beautiful memories that the kids will cherish forever . A gift to Father Joe ’ s Villages provides families and children in need the opportunity to enjoy a productive and happy summer . Learn more about how you can support children and families experiencing homelessness at my . neighbor . org .
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