Parents and their children yearn for the summer months as a break from the regular work and school routine of the rest of the year. But when it comes, summers can be stressful if parents don’t plan ahead. Where will the children and youth spend those hours when parents and caregivers are at work? Who will care for them? What kind of activities will provide engaging, education and fun opportunities for them?
To avoid uncertainty and anxiety, parents and caregivers should sign up their children for summer programming as soon as possible. Luckily, there are many options provided by The Children’s Trust and its partners to make sure to fit the needs, interests and learning that should happen over the summer. There are hundreds of low-cost or free summer camp options across Miami-Dade County, and finding the one that is right for a particular family is easier than ever.
Everything from sports and academics to technology and social and emotional wellness are available in summer programming but the earlier parents go looking the better chance they can find available space for their children. Before starting a search, parents, caregivers and children or youth must determine what will work in terms of location and access, focus of summer camp and other variables.
To make it easier for families to find low or no-cost summer camps programs, The Children’s Trust is again partnering with Miami-Dade County, Miami-Dade County Public Schools and Jewish Community Services of South Florida to create the “More Summer Camps Choices” initiative.
Nearly 500 programs funded by or operated through the anchor partners are listed on 211Miami.org/SummerCamps and widely promoted by the partners throughout the community. Last year, these efforts resulted in 400 times as many online searches than in the previous year and a 40 percent increase in calls to the 211 Helpline for summer camps.
Also, for a third year, The Trust and school system are teaming up on Summer 305 to bring M-DCPS teachers into the Trust camps operated at M-DCPS school sites to teach reading and math to combat summer learning loss.
For a wide range of Trust-funded programs offered in Miami-Dade County, including all of its summer programming options, please visit www.TheChildrenstrust.org/find-a-program.