Summer 2019 was one to remember for the Believe and Achieve Foundation. Chester County Family Academy students in our B&A Summer Enrichment Program enjoyed four weeks of experiential learning and community experiences. The Enrichment Program is free of cost to the families and students receive free breakfast, lunch, and snacks. The Believe and Achieve Pillars of Success provide a framework for the students to learn about building confidence and self esteem, incorporating a growth mind-set and living a healthy lifestyle through nutritional support and physical activity. The goal of our Summer Enrichment Program is to provide low income students equal experiences and opportunities to improve the achievement gap in the educational setting.
Students participated in many unique and exciting activities through out the summer. The children had the opportunity to experience a day at Westtown’s Summer Camp and a day at Penn Charter’s Summer Camp, where they participated in Archery, Tennis, Art, and Music. Sport themed experiences were incorporated this summer, the students enjoyed a tour to Talen Stadium, home of the Philadelphia Union with our friends from Evovle IP and they went to their first baseball game and had an unforgettable day at the ballpark, thanks to the Philadelphia Phillies! Math and money were made exciting with a field trip to our friends at 1847 Financial. Field trips to Locust Lane Riding Center, gave the students time on the farm, enjoying the animals and riding horses. Thanks to community support, swimming at the YMCA, Lunch at Maz Mexican Cantina, and tennis lessons with the Henderson High School Tennis team provided local fun and learning opportunities. Special activities, such as ballet, yoga, and health lessons by Villanova graduate nursing students were provided weekly. The Fresh To You, Mobile Market from the Chester County Foodbank set up centers every Friday, students made healthy snacks, planted seeds, and got to shop fresh produce and food to take home to their families. We ended our summer with a special trip, students enjoyed a day on the beach and boardwalk in Wildwood, NJ thanks to the Lunch with Lynch Foundation. For many of our students this was their first time seeing the ocean!
We are proud to partner with the Lasko Family to provide free summer camp to sixty children at the Oscar Lasko YMCA. The children enjoyed a summer filled with fun and new experiences. Campers enjoyed swimming, specialty camps, a week on the farm at Locust Lane Riding Center, and some campers attended overnight camp at Camp Shand in Lancaster, PA. Students had the opportunity to participate in the Power Scholars Academy, a free five-week summer learning program designed to help advance students’ academic achievement. A new LIT (Leadership in Training) program was developed for older, middle school campers who want to begin leadership training. The LITS, used their leadership skills to be “buddies” to the younger students in our Summer Enrichment Program at CCFA for special activities and outings.
As all good things do, summer came to an end, but we look forward to expanding our summer programs in 2020!
