While yesterday and today’s weather sure feels more like winter than spring, it’s inarguable that summer is right around the corner and with it the need for kids to get up, get out, and be, well... kids! Any parent knows intuitively that too much screen time coupled with too little physical activity, exacerbated by a second year of pandemic circumstances that challenge even the heartiest among us, is not good for children. With the Y’s incredible camp enrollment numbers as a guide, it's quite clear that parents agree.
High-quality summer camp experiences are way more than meets the eye. Many studies show that children who are active and productively engaged over the summer thwart what is known as "summer learning loss;" the well documented tendency for children who are disengaged mentally and physically to slip backwards in their academic gains while other children who are active and continuing to keep their minds sharp are moving ahead. The net result creates a widening inequity gap in education which becomes harder and harder to overcome as time goes on.
This is all why we work so hard to provide a rich and broad array of excellent Y camp experiences for children and teens at 16 locations across the region and why we work equally as hard to assure that no child is left out due to their parents' economic circumstances.
Families wishing to enroll and/or help others do so, should visit ymaryland.org/camp to explore all of our camp options and opportunities.
If you are or someone you know is looking for an awesome summer job working in a positive and healthy environment that has a real impact on our community, check out the Y’s career page.
Preparing for safe and enriching summer camp experiences across a footprint as large as ours requires the organizational and management skills of a highly expert and talented team. We are fortunate to have such a team led by Dana Ashley and Matt Lewis, and a cast of many, many more leaders who ensure that Y camp sparkles every summer. Their hard work will provide children and families across the region a big dose of just what the doctor order for this summer: safe, healthy fun.
All the best,
John
John K. Hoey
President & CEO
The Y in Central Maryland