Hispanic Health Council, Inc.: MI CASA Summer Camp XXVIII

MI CASA Summer Camp XXVIII at our site on Park Street will provide a medley of activities heavily focused on literacy and youth development including vocabulary building, reading, research, oral presentation, arts, crafts, health and nutrition, sports, and educational and fun field trips. Our camp will serve 90 youth ages 7–14 primarily from poor Latino families in the Frog Hollow neighborhood of Hartford. The camp runs for five weeks, Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Field Trip days are on three Fridays, when camp begins at 8:00 am. Approximately half of the participants come from our 21st Century Community Learning Center at Sánchez School. Our vocabulary and books used are suggested by teachers, we use the school peer codes for our program, and we use the school expeditionary learning model. We also consult with parents and the Principal and school staff in the planning of strategies and provision of data (we have a memorandum of agreement with Hartford Public Schools regarding data privacy). 

Need is indicated by the high poverty rate in the area served and by academic performance measures (Each year, there are more applicants than we are able to serve within our staff ratio limitations. Our program uses a combination of research based curricula (Health and Media curriculum and Leadership Curriculum) as well as best practices. Our summer theme this year will be “Hollywood 1.2,” including researching history of movie making, and modern music identifying contributions of Latino cultures to the film and music industry. Our program staff are all bilingual and bicultural and have significant experience working with the Latino community. Parental engagement is an important aspect of our program and includes direct involvement in camp activities, volunteer opportunities as chaperones for field trips, and literacy workshop (Raising Readers). Collaborative activities are planned with the Wadsworth Atheneum, Connecticut Science Center, Auer Farm, Pope Park (pool), and the Hartford Public Library Park Street Branch. Hartford Public Schools Food Service Division provides snack and supper for students. Connecticut Children’s Medical Center provides medical consultation and oversight. Staff are trained in Pediatric First Aid and CPR.

MI CASA Summer Camp XXVIII is Summer School Compatible.