Fredericksburg Parent

www.FredericksburgParent.NET 31 FOCUS ON ACADEMIC READINESS As it rolls out summer programming, the Y is focusing across all of its branches on preparing students for a successful return to school in the fall. "We are doing all we can to bridge the gap, as we know that many children have not reached the level they needed to in their current school year," said Alicia Kindred, execu ve director at the Ron Rosner Family YMCA in Spotsylvania County. Summer camps and programming will have built-in academic components designed to help students con nue to make progress on academic skills—all while having the summer camp experience the YMCA is known for. This past fall, 27% of kindergartners and 28% of fi rst-graders failed to meet benchmarks, compared to the 2019 fi gures of 17% and 18%, respectively. This includes programming for multiple age groups. The following programs are enrolling now: KINDERCAMP This half-day camp for children ages 3-5 has always been known for helping kids learn through play. In addi on to a variety of fun ac vi es, including wa- ter play, sports and games, this year's Kindercamp will also ins ll some of the skills children will need to succeed in kindergarten, including classroom skills like raising hands, walking in a line and asking for help from the teacher. YMCA SUMMER DAY CAMP This full-day camp for school-age children will give kids plenty of outdoor and ac ve me, along with the games, songs and ceremonies that make camp special. This year, the day camps will include academic programming that will be delivered in a fun atmosphere to help kids enrich their reading, math and STEM skills. Each day will also include dedicated reading me. POWER SCHOLARS ACADEMY The YMCA is working with the Staff ord, Spotsyl- vania and King George county public schools to expand its Power Scholars summer school pro- gramming this year. This will allow the schools to con nue to deliver learning to at-risk students for a four-week summer session, while also giving students fun, camp-like enrichment ac vi es to build both skills and fun memories. Par cipants are iden fi ed through their schools for par cipa on in this program. In 2019, Power Scholars students gained an average of 2.5 months of math skills and 3 months of reading skills over the course of the program. All camps will follow all CDC and Virginia Depart- ment of Social Services protocols for opera ng safe child care facili es amid the pandemic. Kindred said the Y fi rst started seeing the need for summer academics when school systems began asking for help expanding the Power Schol- ars program. She said it was apparent that more academic help would be needed, and that the Y could help the community by adding academic programming to its exis ng summer camps. "Even if a child isn't going to summer school, we know there is a need for some academic support," she said. "We are here to be a community resource, and we want our community to come out of this successfully, without the pandemic compromising people any more than they already have been." The Y is seeking community dona ons to help facilitate its Power Schol- ars Academy. The organiza on also provides scholarships and will expand capacity as much as possible to make its camp programs accessible to as many children in the community as possible. "We don't want to turn anyone away," Kindred said. The Rappahannock Area YMCA has set a $500,000 fundraising goal to help rebuild its impact programs, including Power Scholars, in 2021. To donate, visit family-ymca.org/support-the-y/donate. To learn more or register for the YMCA's summer camp or Kindercamp, visit family-ymca.org/child-care/camps/

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