On the last day of summer camp, a group of 5-6 year olds ran giddily around the playground at the Carver Community Center, faces radiant from the sunny day and the sense of freedom that’s unique to children on their summer break.
Four children were testing how high they could swing; one boy proudly announced that he had touched the leaves of a nearby tree. Across the way, another child was offering to make her counselor a friendship bracelet. “How many strings do you want? And which colors? I can add beads too!”
When asked about their favorite parts of camp, answers were similar across all ages and genders:
Making new friends
The teachers (Affectionately referring to their camp counselors)
Playing outside and in the gym
Learning in the computer lab (Math and literacy were taught using computer programs)
The field trips (Of which there were many: blueberry picking at Silverman’s Farm, The Beardsley Zoo, The Maritime Aquarium, Lake Compounce, and more...)
At Carver, we understood the importance of this summer and what it would mean to children who had just endured an isolating and difficult school year. Kids needed to be kids, to experience the joys that summertime brings. They needed an outlet for their creativity and curiosity. They rightfully deserved it.
Meeting the needs of Norwalk’s children
We knew we needed to strengthen their academic skills and facilitate their social-emotional development to help them recover from the learning loss precipitated by the pandemic and to adequately prepare them for the upcoming school year. Thankfully, our caring and talented team of Program Directors and Managers, Camp Directors, Coordinators, Counselors, and Administrative Assistants exceeded our expectations by designing and overseeing summer programs that combined academics, enrichments, and pure fun to captivate and educate our campers.
A summer learning program at Side by Side Charter School and After the Summer Bell at Kendall Elementary School were added to our summer offerings this year, joining our summer enrichment camps at the Carver Community Center and Columbus Magnet School, and our summer transition programs for incoming 6th and 9th graders at all Norwalk middle and high schools. Mo’s Summer Run, a community-based basketball program held in the evenings at the Carver Community Center, expanded with the addition of the L.O.V.E. Unit, which brought the program to Roodner Court and Columbus Court.
A snapshot of the Carver summer experience
Summer is a time for fun and exploration, for new experiences and new friends. By prioritizing accessibility and making our summer learning programs free and highly affordable, children of all backgrounds can enjoy the glee and wonder that summer elicits. Parents can attend to their work and personal obligations without worries, knowing that their child is in a safe, supportive environment.
Some of the many activities, enrichments, and field trips over 700 Carver kids experienced this summer are listed below.
After the Summer Bell engaged students through:
STEM activities
Team-building and literacy activities
Cooking
Lego projects
Art
At Side by Side, students enjoyed:
Interactive STEM enrichments
Fencing
Yoga
Coding
Pottery
Scrapbooking
Forensics
Campers at the Carver Community Center had weekly dance classes, soccer games led by a group of teenaged volunteers called “Level the Field,” a videography enrichment, and music and art classes led by Beatastic, a nonprofit group founded by a Greenwich Academy student.
Columbus campers were delighted by a surprise visit from Spiderman and a trip to SeaQuest in Trumbull, where they learned about and interacted with a variety of animals, including a snake and an albino hedgehog.
At West Rocks Middle School, students in the transition program engaged in fun science experiments, learned about nature and sea creatures during visits from Earthplace and The Maritime Aquarium, and reached new heights at Sky Zone. The transition program at Ponus Ridge Middle School teamed up with West Rocks for an eventful trip to Bowlmor Lanes.
Incoming 9th graders at Brien McMahon High School and Norwalk High School loved the partnership between their respective transition programs and the new Norwalk Art Space, which had students exhibit projects summarizing what they learned about their new schools. Rowing was another favorite enrichment among students, with many experiencing the sport for the first time.
Our community cares
Our summer programming is made possible by an incredibly generous community of donors and volunteers. Thank you for your help in giving Carver kids the positive summer experience they deserved!