July 25, 2011

Midsummer Musings on a Sensational Summer

I am a firm believer in the idea that entire movements, events, (or in our case), summers, can be captured in single moments, memories, and lingering mental images. In my humble opinion, nothing better captures my summer so far as Youth Enrichment Director of Summer in the City as the final moments of last Friday’s Downtown Field Trip. In a rather daring (and daunting) adventure that many had presupposed would fail and that could have been catastrophic in so many ways, we took 80 elementary school campers downtown to venture through some of the city’s landmarks with fingers crossed and breaths held that we wouldn’t lose a child. After trekking through the Detroit Opera House, the Boll Family YMCA, the Guardian Building, Campus Martius and the Compuware Building, all of the campers, volunteers and crew members descended upon the city’s famed Riverwalk. As I led a group of lost, tired, hot and hungry kindergartners to the majestic fountains at the Riverwalk, I saw every ounce of fear, sadness and discomfort disappear as the kids (and volunteers) ran straight through the fountains without a care in the world. And as much as the crew members attempted to shoo the campers out of the water and onto the buses, the kids were simply having too much fun. But as I arrived, megaphone in hand, I was greeted by smiles, hugs, and eyes as big as the sun, as I shouted “Summer in the City! FOLLOW ME!” Immediately, swarms of children and volunteers followed the echoing sounds of their favorite megaphone, eager to get to the barbecue and end their day on the highest of high notes. As I turned around, the image of the entire Youth Enrichment family walking together, happy and wet, filled my eyes and heart. And at this very moment, every hope I had for a truly unforgettable summer was wholly fulfilled.

-Katie O’Donnell

July 24, 2011
Six years old with frizzy hair and flower power clothing, I was definitely not the coolest kid during my Summer camp days. A decade later, I’m still true to my childish character, spending the majority of my summer with Kindergarteners and First-Graders. From dance-offs to unusual Picasso-like artwork, the Glazer Elementary School Arts & Smarts campers are fueled and ready to go at a supersonic pace everyday. The young campers evoke a spectrum of emotions, ranging from a ravenous red to a timid periwinkle blue, hoping for a local camp to simmer and sizzle their Summer plans. Today was best summarized by six year old Alvin, who, in the middle of Simon Says broke into a wild chant: “I WANT TO PLAYYYYYY!” Yes, clearly Summer in the City signals some solid play-dates.
Ava Nasro, Youth Enrichment Crew Member
July 17, 2011

Ferocious Field Trips!

One of the most fun features of Summer in the City’s Youth Enrichment Programs (for campers, volunteers, and crew alike) has always been the Friday Field Trips. For years, Summer in the City has provided unforgettable trips to elementary school campers at different destinations around the city, and this year is no exception. With the goal of “heating up” our Friday Field Trips this summer, the Youth Enrichment Crew has worked tirelessly to create more creative and exciting field trips for all involved. Needless to say, they have rocked.

One of our most fun field trips so far has been a Wayne State, Detroit Institute of Arts and Detroit Historical Museum adventure. On Friday July 8th, crew, campers and volunteers were given the opportunity to freely explore the three different locations and create their own Midtown experience. At the end of the day, the sight of campers falling asleep on the bus ride home after an action packed day was icing on the cake of a truly fabulous day.

Still another one of our crazy field trips was a Harry Potter Field Day (aka TRI-WIZARD TOURNAMENT), in honor of the final installment of the Harry Potter film series. On Friday, July 15th, Clark Park in Southwest Detroit filled with wizards, witches, dragons, and even TWO Golden Snitches, playing Quidditch, taking Hogwarts classes, and eating a fabulous feast in the “Great Hall”. In our humble opinion, the final Harry Potter movie had a lot to compete with after our take on the magical wizarding world.

Stay tuned for more field trips and fun with Project Play!

July 2, 2011
Summer in the City’s tenth season is heating up, and so is our Youth Enrichment Program. Here’s what one of our Youth Enrichment Crew Members, Emily Kempa, has to share with you all about one of our Youth Enrichment camper’s arts & crafts and creative fun & games at Latino Mission Society.   “After carefully constructing purple colored clothespin butterflies at Latino Mission Society, one of the little girl’s butterflies gained the magical power to make me ‘frozen and unfrozen.’ This caused small hindrances in navigating my way around the arts & crafts room, but I eventually mastered my route to prevent the butterfly from freezing me. Later in the afternoon, as the girl refused to leave Clark Park until she got a drink of water, I was once again being frozen and unfrozen on the sidewalk. After starting to walk before being unfrozen, I was reprimanded. I explained that I had started melting because of the sun (though I was promptly informed that I had been in the shade). A couple minutes later, the young girl then told me, ‘I’m going to freeze you, the sun will melt you, and then I can have a drink once you melt into water.’ That was definitely a first. I can honestly say no one in my life has tried to melt me into water. Though I would prefer not to turn into water, I’m so very excited for more impromptu games the creative children concoct.” 

Summer in the City’s tenth season is heating up, and so is our Youth Enrichment Program. Here’s what one of our Youth Enrichment Crew Members, Emily Kempa, has to share with you all about one of our Youth Enrichment camper’s arts & crafts and creative fun & games at Latino Mission Society.

  “After carefully constructing purple colored clothespin butterflies at Latino Mission Society, one of the little girl’s butterflies gained the magical power to make me ‘frozen and unfrozen.’ This caused small hindrances in navigating my way around the arts & crafts room, but I eventually mastered my route to prevent the butterfly from freezing me. Later in the afternoon, as the girl refused to leave Clark Park until she got a drink of water, I was once again being frozen and unfrozen on the sidewalk. After starting to walk before being unfrozen, I was reprimanded. I explained that I had started melting because of the sun (though I was promptly informed that I had been in the shade). A couple minutes later, the young girl then told me, ‘I’m going to freeze you, the sun will melt you, and then I can have a drink once you melt into water.’ That was definitely a first. I can honestly say no one in my life has tried to melt me into water. Though I would prefer not to turn into water, I’m so very excited for more impromptu games the creative children concoct.” 

June 23, 2011
[Flash 10 is required to watch video]

One new exciting addition to our Youth Enrichment Programs this year is the “Junior Volunteer” (or JV) program at Camp Glazer. All of our Junior Volunteers are middle-school aged young people who have been involved with Summer in the City in years past, and this year will focus on leadership development, while engaging in meaningful service through planting, painting, and playing at various sites. Throughout the past week, Junior Volunteers have been working very hard in learning a little bit more about themselves, about communication and working with a group, and about what it means to be a leader, a role model, and a volunteer. Two of their favorite activities were a blindfolded “trust walk” throughout an obstacle course and creation of a giant balloon structure, where they were able to learn to trust one another, listen to one another, and communicate with one another. In this video, Eric explains what he thinks it means to be a leader, and how he plans to execute his vision of leadership this summer. 

June 1, 2011 • summerinthecitydetroit

Summer in the City: 10 Reasons To Be Excited for Project Play's 10th Summer

summerinthecitydetroit:

Fresh off the press from Abby Hunter and Katie O’Donnell (henceforth known as Kabby, Miss. O’Hunter if you’re feisty):

  1. For those of you who miss your Latino Mission Society Buddies, you’re in luck. This year, we will be rocking it out at Clark Park for all 8 weeks!
  2. You will have the chance to…
May 22, 2011 • summerinthecitydetroit
summerinthecitydetroit: (Clark Park, 2010) Jillian, who took and submitted this photo, says, “This photo is great just because of how much fun that kid is having.” I second that, and would like to add that this is approximately how excited you should be for this summer. 30 DAYS TO SITC 2011

summerinthecitydetroit:

(Clark Park, 2010)

Jillian, who took and submitted this photo, says, “This photo is great just because of how much fun that kid is having.” I second that, and would like to add that this is approximately how excited you should be for this summer.

30 DAYS TO SITC 2011

May 1, 2011

Abby: Can’t Wait to Play!

Summer in the City’s Project Play is completely, utterly, and downright fun, flexible, and fulfilling. This past summer season, Summer 2010, Project Play danced, sang, moved, and grooved all around the City of Detroit. Project play spent numerous hours with young and energetic elementary students in vibrant schools, parks, and community centers. 

One of my favorite memories from last summer was playing outside at Clark Park with Summer in the City’s campers from Latino Mission Society. Being silly outside in the summer sun with dozens of elementary – aged students and Summer in the City volunteers is my fondest memory. 

Whether we were having a super – awesome time with science experiments, such as homemade volcanoes; playing exciting and nail – biting rounds of freeze - tag; or just busting some moves during intense dance parties, smiles were never a shortage with Latino Mission Society campers and Summer in the City volunteers at Clark Park!

Attending The University of Vermont this year has made me more excited than ever to spend my Summer in the City. Detroit has a vibrance unlike any other I’ve ever known or, I suspect, ever will. The city is bursting with opportunities, innovations, and positive energy. I’ve never been so excited to take the plunge into the Summer in the City season! I am more excited than ever to spend summer days in Detroit with elementary student campers, community members, and Summer in the City volunteers. I’m counting down the days until the high-energy Summer in the City action kicks into gear, and I invite you to join me in my excitement!

I hope that you will join the Summer in the City family this summer, during our tenth summer in the beautiful city of Detroit. I encourage you, your friends, and your friends’ friends to join in with the Summer in the City action this season, and to simply make every day the best day ever!

April 10, 2011
Tye-Dye masterpiece!

Tye-Dye masterpiece!