3 things to look for in planning a great summer experience for your child

Summer break is looming, and the stretch of nearly two months without a school routine can be daunting for parents. Finding high quality alternatives to school that provide a break without contributing to summer learning loss is often a challenge.

Fortunately, our community offers a wide variety summer camps and programs to keep school-aged children busy and enjoying new experiences. As a study from the National Education Association reports, out-of-school programs, focused on personal and social development, “have a positive impact on students’ grades, academic achievement and self esteem.” So it’s important for parents to select an enriching program.

We’ve come up with three things to look for in a program to help you narrow down your list of potential summer camps for your kid(s).

1. Friends and fun
Summer break should feel like a break from the test-focused school days. At the Girls Inc. summer camp, girls interact with peers in engaging, fun, hands-on activities. With programs tailored specifically for girls ages 6-14, our staff focuses on creating a fun space for girls to make new friends. Many parents share that the all-girl environment is their daughter’s favorite part of the camp; "[the most beneficial part of camp was] the focus on her and issues that young girls deal with in an environment that she felt comfortable being herself." Girls Inc. also takes advantage of the summer weather and makes time for swimming, field trips, and other traditional summer day camp activities.

2. Positive learning environment
While the fun aspect of camp is essential, it'is equally important to keep your child mentally stimulated over the long academic break. "Programs that extend the school year can do more than reduce summer learning loss—they can increase academic achievement," states the National Education Association. Camps that emphasize a positive learning environment allow your child to grow intellectually and personally. Here's an example: This summer at our six-week camp, girls will test their economic knowledge by creating and then running a business for a day, experience democracy in action with a live debate and vote, and practice leadership skills and teamwork. Not only will girls learn skills to help them  in school, they'll practice confidence, gain self-esteem, and absorb messages  for success in life.

3. Camp and beyond

9-11 year-old girls participate in a team building activity during Girls Inc. summer camp.

Whether the camp focuses on career exploration or  specializes in math, science, arts or athletics, programs that engage kids in their passions will help them prepare for their future. This summer with Girls Inc., campers will visit Butler University and IUPUI campuses to envision and learn about life as a college student. Campers will also meet with professional women in the community, many in nontraditional fields, to learn about their profession, educational background, and day-to-day work. Last year one parent shared, “My daughter benefited from looking at women for their strengths and what they bring to their communities rather than their celebrity.” Girls will also receive advice from Girls Inc.'s 2012 Touchstone Awards honorees at the annual luncheon on July 12.

One final thing that can make a difference in your camp choice  is cost. Though quality programs are worth every penny, we know can be a barrier for many. If you  are committed to providing special summer opportunities for your child but  can't afford the fees, ask about a scholarship. Girls Inc. offers limited scholarship assistance for qualifying families.

Not sending a child to camp this year? Help another family send their child to a quality experience by donating to scholarship funds for greater Indianapolis summer programs. For a firsthand account of our commitment to supporting families, watch our video with Tunisia, a summer camp parent of six years.

P.S. Registration for Girls Inc. Summer Camp is still available for all age groups!

–Abri Hochstetler, public relations coordinator, Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis

 If you want to know more about your investment

Summer day camp and/or overnight camping programs for kids in Central Indiana are offered at 35 United Way agencies.  More than 40,000 children and youth participated in these activities last summer.

Offerings range from the traditional summer camp activities such as arts and crafts, swimming, canoeing, archery, horseback riding, hiking, camp fire cooking to visiting colleges around the state to help older kids prepare for higher education, zip lines and high ropes courses. Also offered are academic enrichment  such as computer classes, math, reading, writing and tutoring to help prevent "summer brain drain." Theme camps enable youth to improve their  golf, basketball, baseball or tennis skills.

All 13 Indianapolis neighborhood community centers offer day camps, as do Salvation Army centers and all Boys and Girls Clubs supported by United Way, ensuring that at risk children have a safe, nurturing and affordable option during their out-of-school time. All day camps also provide nutritious meals and snacks that for many may be their only meals.

Children with special needs have opportunities to enjoy traditional residential summer camp experiences including, Camp Little Red Door for children with cancer; Camp R.O.C.K.S.! offered by Easter Seals Crossroads for children with autism disorders; Camp Tataya Mayo at Jameson Camp for children impacted by HIV/AIDS; and Asthma Camp at Happy Hollow Children’s Camp.

St. Patty’s Day parade

The sun was shining and the streets were flooded with green. It was a perfect day for sunglasses, goofy green hats and beads. Downtown Indianapolis was the place to be on St. Patty's Day for agency executives and staff. Regardless of agency affiliation, everyone was inspired by the Irish mood during the St. Patty's Day parade.

John Joanette, executive director, Horizon House and Jennifer Vigran, president and CEO, Second Helpings, enjoy the St. Patrick's Day festivities.

Agencies joined together for the St. Patty's Day parade.

Click here to view more photos of the event.

–Katie Rethlake, communications intern, United Way of Central Indiana

Four reasons why not everyone who is out of work can ‘just get a job’

I'm part of a team of three full-time and one part-timer at Flanner House, whose job title is a little unusual: relationship manager. We don't consider ourselves "case managers," because we have long-term relationships with people, not with "cases."

Our goal is to help people earn more money, keep more of what they earn and even move up the economic ladder.

Right now, I'm working with about 40 families. I know that some people don't understand why anyone who wants to work is not working because they know there are jobs available.

Beth McClellan (middle), relationship manager, with Flanner House of Indianapolis co-workers.

Here are four things I wish more people knew about why it's not so simple for everyone who is out of work to quickly get a job.

1. Having reliable transportation can be a big barrier to going to work. Many don't have a car. Others may have a car, but they cannot afford to fill up the gas tank. And then others may live near a bus, but bus service might not extend to where the job is.

2. The application process itself can be a stumbling block. In recent years, the very act of filling an application has changed dramatically. Everything is online. Some places even refuse to accept a paper application. And while we might be able to get people in front of a computer at a library or in a community center, sometimes they don't have a clue how to use a computer, so job seekers must first learn how to set up email, learn word processing software and other programs before they can even begin the job search.

3. Child care may be either inadequate or unaffordable. If your job starts at 6 a.m. and you can't get child care until 7 a.m., that can be a show stopper. If you can find child care that's adequate, you might not be able to afford it. And then there's the issue of timing. In order to get child care subsidies, you must already have a job. But landing a job when you don't already have a way to pay for child care is another challenge our job seekers face.

4. Many have lost confidence in themselves and in their own ability to turn bad circumstances around. I remember one young single mom with three boys who had completed our program and was looking for housing. She had been told "no" so many times, she simply did not believe she could get a "yes." I told her she needed to sell herself. She needed to explain how she completed the program and was a responsible citizen. She needed to believe she could make the changes in her life that she wanted. Within a week, she found housing that was affordable and safe.

Helping people get new skills takes time, but in some ways it is the easy part of being a relationship manager. What's not so easy is helping them believe in their own potential. We encourage them to "think about what you are thinking about."

We are grateful for the support we get from United Way and people who contribute to it, because it helps us teach the hard skills  people need to get a job. More importantly, it allows us to help our neighbors realize that our community is behind them, and it's within their power to make big changes in their own lives.

–Beth McClellan, relationship manager, Flanner House of Indianapolis