Havre de Grace Club kids participated in the 2017 Nestlé National Fitness Competition
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford and Cecil Counties offers three options for summer fun for the whole family this year: Camp Hidden Valley, Summer Enrichment Programs and the Aberdeen Family Swim Center. In additional to providing affordable fun, the Clubs focus on curbing summer learning loss for children.
According to the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA), most students lose an average of two months of math skills, and low-income children lose up to three months in reading skills every summer. That summer learning loss results in nine out of ten teachers spending as much as three weeks on review when school begins. For the Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford and Cecil Counties, this loss presents an essential opportunity to provide low-cost education options during the summer.
Camp Hidden Valley, an eight-week-long summer camp, runs from June 25 through August 17 and incorporates a wide variety of outdoor and indoor activities ranging from archery to hiking, team sports, team building courses and other games as well as arts and crafts. Free bus transportation is provided throughout a variety of Harford County pick-up locations.
The camp’s counselors come from overseas through an international partnership with Camp America, hailing from England, the Netherlands and Lithuania. With a diverse staff comes an array of exciting weekly themes such as STEM, which features science-related activities; “Out on the Countryside,” where kids will learn how to make butter and explore nature; and “British Takeover,” where counselors from England will teach campers how to play cricket and partake in traditional afternoon tea.
“Camp Hidden Valley programs and activities are specifically planned and carefully coordinated by the camp’s professional and international staff,” said Dwayne Noe, Executive Director of Camp Hidden Valley. “Each of the camp’s one-week sessions will deliver on the promise that families expect from an excellent summer camp experience; we invite the community to learn more about our upcoming programs!”
In addition to Camp Hidden Valley, each Club location in Harford and Cecil County offers a variety of unique Summer Enrichment Programs (SEP), which include academics, games, sports, dance, music and more.
Kids ages 6 – 16 can participate in SEP programs running Monday – Friday from 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. from June 25 – August 24 at every Club located in Harford and Cecil County. Programs include “summer brain gain,” an evidence-based program designed to reduce summer learning loss, nature programs such as “magnificent mammals” and programs educating about living a healthier lifestyle such as “healthy me.” Teenagers ages 13-16 can apply to be a part of this summer’s Young Leaders Academy. Financial aid applications are accepted until May 25.
For families seeking a community pool membership, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford and Cecil Counties’ Aberdeen Family Swim Center offers the lowest rates in the region, with a family membership for five starting at only $140 prior to April 1. The pool is open 7 days a week from 12 – 8:00 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and also offers swimming lessons for members and non-members.
For more information and to register for Camp Hidden Valley, summer enrichment programs or the Aberdeen Family Swim Center, visit www.bgcharfordcecil.org or call 410-272-0010.
