The Children’s Trust 2012 Summer Programs Guide — offering parents and caregivers free information they need to locate a fun, enriching summer camp for their child — is available online at <www.thechildrentrust.org> and in all Miami-Dade Winn-Dixie stores.
Look for them, while supplies last, in specially identified racks near the front of your local store or near the customer service desk. The same information also can be accessed by calling 2-1-1, The Children’s Trust Helpline.
The trilingual guide provides a comprehensive overview of available programs, whether or not they are funded by The Children’s Trust. Parents should remember that just because kids break from school, it doesn’t mean they should break from learning. Summer is a time when children often fall behind in their academics, losing as much as two months of math and reading skills.
But this “summer slide” can be avoided. By enrolling kids in summer camps that appeal to their interests — such as sports, music, dance, art, theater, marine life, technology or a host of other areas — they will continue to thrive in the summer months. The key is to select a program that stimulates a child’s brain as well as their body. A reading component is required in all summer programs funded by The Children’s Trust helping to ensure that learning continues year round.
Organized by geographic regions and zip codes, the guide’s list of programs includes addresses, contact information, fees, the ages of children served, and brief descriptions of hundreds of locations.
The Children’s Trust-funded sites are clearly identified. Programs are operated by mostly non-profit and faith-based organizations, as well as city and county parks and recreation departments. Trust support allows many programs to serve families for free or low cost, but once those scholarships are utilized, regular fees may apply.
The Children’s Trust is the largest funder of summer, after-school, and youth development programs in Miami-Dade County, serving more than 50,000 children annually, including programs that serve children with disabilities. The Children’s Trust is a dedicated source of revenue established by voter referendum to improve the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County.
