Delaware – The “best summer ever” is underway at the YMCA of Delaware as thousands of young people are having a summer they will never forget. YMCA full and half-day camps are filled with learning, fun and adventure for campers of all ages, preschoolers through teens, and are offered statewide at YMCA locations in Wilmington, Bear, Middletown, Newark, Dover and Rehoboth.
YMCA summer camps are more important than ever, serving as a recovery opportunity to close the COVID learning gap and get children and families back to a new normal. The pandemic’s effects on student learning have been profound as remote or hybrid schooling kept kids inside, stuck on screens, and away from classmates and friends. Educators across the country report significant learning loss and disruption to social-emotional learning when comparing current students to those in previous years. And, typically more than half of students lose nearly 40% of the year’s learning during the summer.
“After the most challenging year in our collective memory, we know that children and families need summer camp more than ever before and we are working hard to ensure an educational, safe and fun summer for all of our campers”, says Deborah Bagatta-Bowles, CEO of YMCA of Delaware. “We are excited to deliver that magical camp experience where children can learn, explore the outdoors, meet new friends, discover new interests and create memories that last a lifetime.”
A leading nonprofit committed to nurturing the potential of youth, the Y has been providing summer camp for more than 100 years. YMCA summer camps nurture and enrich development, spark curiosity, and inspire creativity by providing a safe place to learn fundamental skills, build self-reliance and confidence, and establish healthy, trusting relationships. To help close the COVID learning gap, language arts, reading, science and math are incorporated into activities to support students academically during the summer months. Camp activities include arts and crafts, nature and STEM, drama, field games, sports and movement, water play, swim lessons, theme-related activities, and virtual field trips- all designed to educate and engage.
The YMCA of Delaware offers preschool through 10th grade camp programs. In addition to summer day camp, the Y operates an overnight camp- Camp Tockwogh- on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay in Worton, Maryland. To ensure that all youth have the opportunity to experience camp, the YMCA provides financial assistance to those in need. Statewide, 1 in 3 campers receive financial assistance. These families often struggle to make ends meet, and for many, summer camp is out of reach. Last year, more than 650 children were able to attend Summer Camp thanks to donors. If you’re interested in helping send kids to camp this summer, you can donate to the Y at www.ymcade.org
For more information about summer camp at the YMCA, visit www.ysummercamp.org.