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Carver's rising 6th graders learn that jumping for joy is good exercise and that the only way to keep your balance is to keep moving!

If Carver kids ever watched the Olympics and thought "I could totally do that," they had their chance! Our rising 6th graders enjoyed all of the fun when they tried their Olympic moves out at Sky Zone in Norwalk.

Michael Richards, a Social Studies Teacher at West Rocks Middle School, and his colleague Joe Giandurco at Ponus Ridge Middle School, are each Carver’s longtime Lead Program Coordinators for our after-school and summer transition programs at those two middle schools.

Sky Zone is the originator of wall-to-wall aerial action, and they never stand still. They’re always working to invent epic new ways to play, gather, and compete. The only way to understand it is to come to experience it.

And that is just what our rising 6th-grade summer students entering West Rocks and Ponus Ridge Middle Schools in the fall experienced.

Our students let go of gravity and grabbed some air on the sprawling wall-to-wall trampoline courts. They challenged each other to show off their inner acrobat.

The Foam Zone is all about big air and soft landings. This is the ideal area to practice their most daring stunts safely into a pool of huge foam squares. Part trampolining, part parkour, part skating vert ramp,

The Wall added an entirely new dimension to the aerial experience, offering a canvas for a different type of expression—no harness necessary. Carver kids put their strength and stamina to the test as they hang over the pit, free climbing this challenging bouldering wall.

Carver kids reached new heights while flipping and jumping and climbing!

Sky Zone is part of CircusTrix, the world’s largest developer, operator, and franchisor of trampoline and active entertainment parks with a network of more than 300 global locations.

Volunteer Max Kim introduces the challenges and joys of Lacrosse to our summer campers

Max Kim (left) and his friend Jake Mclane (back left) teach Carver summer campers how to play lacrosse

Volunteer Max Kim organized and leads a lacrosse clinic for our summer campers at the Carver Community Center. Max attends Greens Farms Academy (GFA) and is a member of the GFA lacrosse team. Max also donated the equipment for our campers to use.

Max’s friends Josh Kitt (GFA), Alex Barbagallo (GFA), Jake Davis (Staples High School in Westport), and Jake Mclane (also Staples) are assisting Max in bringing the lacrosse clinic to our summer campers.

Max also plays for CT Wolves Lacrosse. CT Wolves Lacrosse recruits, mentors, and develops exceptional student-athletes who want to compete academically and athletically at the highest youth, high school, and collegiate levels. Founded by John Mathews, the club was established at the end of the tournament season in 2018. Mathews is also the Lacrosse Head Coach for GFA.

Recreation Director Shannon Bates has been expanding Carver’s sports programming through the years to include Basketball, Soccer, Tennis, Dance, and more. Adding Lacrosse and Volleyball programs are next. Community members like Max and his friends, along with volunteer coaches from the Norwalk Lacrosse Association, are enthusiastic partners in helping introduce the sport to our kids this summer and beyond.

Lacrosse is a fast-paced game. It is the modern version of the North American Indian game in which two teams of players use long-handled, racket-like implements (crosses) to catch, carry, or throw a ball down the field or into the opponents' goal. It’s demanding physically and has the hardest conditioning of any sport. Players are always running if they are not sprinting. It’s constant movement — and constant fun!

Stay tuned for news about additional Lacrosse programming during the school year. Thank you, GFA and Staples Lacrosse Boys!

Carver campers challenge their limits and collect over-the-top memories at Quassy Amusement & Waterpark!

Our After the Bell summer campers enjoyed the day at Quassy Amusement & Watrerpark! Founded as an amusement park in 1908, Quassy is located in Middlebury. It sits on the south shore of Lake Quassapaug. Quassy is one of only 11 remaining “trolley parks” in the United States today, according to the National Amusement Park Historical Association.

Bowling is right up the students' alley for rising 6th graders at at West Rocks Middle School!

Michael Richards, a certified teacher for Grade 6 at West Rocks Middle School and our longtime Lead Program Coordinator for our after-school and summer programs there, took his rising 6th graders bowling for a joyous time at Bowlero Norwalk.

Bowlero is a blacklight bowling, retro-inspired hangout powered by a menu of Oversized Shareables, arcade games, and nostalgia. Our students experienced epic fun.

Bowling is a great activity for our summer students because it's something everyone can do. Whether they need bumpers to make the experience more enjoyable for less experienced bowlers, bowling is a good time for everyone and a great way to build friendships.

Wondering what’s biting in Long Island Sound? Just ask Carver summer campers!

This summer, our campers at the Carver Community Center and Columbus Magnet School are fishing again with our years-long partner Pelagic Beast Fishing Charters.

Our 10 to 13-year-old boys and girls go on scheduled trips of five campers and one Carver staff on each trip.

The boat Captain has a U.S. Coast Guard boating license and a deckhand who helps the campers with the techniques of fishing. The crew prepares the fish caught by the children for home cooking.

Based out of Norwalk, Pelagic Beast offers unforgettable fishing adventures using tried and tested fishing techniques that work for our summer campers. 

The Pelagic Beast is a 32 ft Downeast-style boat that offers a secure ride in almost any weather. Cruising at 20 knots, this boat gives the Carver kids more time fishing and less time traveling.

Wondering what’s biting in Long Island Sound? Just ask Carver students!

Joy, Belonging, Friendship are the heart of Side by Side Charter School’s summer camp!

Stephanie Palmer is the lead coordinator of our summer program at Side by Side Charter School

Of our 11 summer programs underway this year, this is the second year we are producing a summer program at Side by Side Charter School.

The curriculum-based learning is coupled with enrichment activities that make up more than 50 percent of structured programming. Children are able to choose their activities with time each day for physical activity, unstructured play, and to connect socially both through play and trip experiences, but also through high quality enrichment activities and life skills development such as robotics, coding, the arts, sports, cooking, and Wellness activities such as Yoga, meditation, Wellfit, and Zumba. Classes and enrichment activities take place at SBS and are taught by SBS teachers and other support staff.

But mostly, as these images depict, Joy, Belonging, and Friendship are more than just words at Side by Side Charter School’s summer camp; they're at the center of the experience.

Support the Jamaica Heritage Wall Plaque Campaign!

The N.I.C.E. fundraising campaign is almost complete to permanently recognize Jamaican immigrants with a bronze plaque on Norwalk’s Heritage Wall.

Give here to participate in this important project.

 Carver is especially proud that our CEO, Novelette Peterkin, will be named on the plaque as one of the six Jamaican American Honorary Members of the Jamaican Heritage Trust of Norwalk. Novelette came to America as a youth and has served the Norwalk community in her leadership role at Carver since 2004.

 The vast majority of Jamaican Americans are of black African-Caribbean descent, and many are of full or partial Indian Jamaican, Chinese Jamaican,  European, and Lebanese descent.

Jamaican Americans have always been an important part of the Carver community, especially since the 1950s and 60s. The George Washington Carver Community Center is within walking distance to Norwalk’s Heritage Wall, located at the I-95 exit ramp and West Avenue, across the street from Matthews Park. Heritage Park is the site of many parades and cultural festivals. This new plaque will be a source of great pride to many of Carver’s youth and families now and through the decades.

Mindful Eaters! Clean Juice staff teach Carver kids about the benefits of healthy foods

Abigail Estrada, the store manager, works with our summer campers on learning the benefits of healthy eating

We are thrilled to invite the staff of Clean Juice Darien to teach our campers at the Carver Community Center about the attributes of organic healthy foods. The local franchise opened in Darien this past April.

In addition to bringing samples for our campers to enjoy, the visiting Clean Juice staff talked with our 7 to 9-year-old girls about healthy eating and food balance. They brought worksheets of the food plate for the kids to draw along with a nutrition crossword and tips on how to identify the different food groups.

Clean Juice is the first and only national USDA-certified organic juice bar franchise and quick service restaurant. Clean Juice offers organic cold-pressed juices, smoothies, açaí bowls, salads, sandwiches, wraps, and other healthy foods in a warm and welcoming retail experience. In its short history, Clean Juice has amassed dozens of achievements and awards, most recently being at Top Franchise and Top Franchise for Women in 2022 by Franchise Business Review.