PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — We just started spring, but the countdown to summer is on.
Officials say now is the time for parents to sign their kids up for one of the city's thousands of youth programs, which include camps at rec centers, reading and science activities at the Free Library, and community pools and swim lessons.
“We are officially asking Philadelphia’s families and residents to join us in counting down to a safe, fun and fabulous Philadelphia summer,” said Parks and Recreation Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell.
In addition to summer activities, there are also thousands of available jobs for teens, “and the city and its partners are enrolling more and more youth programming every single day,” she said. Some jobs include lifeguarding, summer camp and PlayStreets instructors, pool maintenance, or one of the many WorkReady programs.
Part of the summer programming is made possible by the William Penn Foundation. Elliot Weinbaum, foundation program director, said over the next two years, it is putting $4.6 million toward 22 Philly summer learning programs.
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“Research shows what’s known as summer slide, or the loss of academic or social skills over the summer,” he said. “[It] occurs in part because children don’t have enough access to fun and engaging summer programs.”
The funds will make summer programming is available for more than 29,000 children of all ages and skill levels.
In anticipation of summer, Philly residents can follow the links below to:
• Apply to host a PlayStreet, a designated street closed off to traffic so kids can safely play
• Enroll a child in one of more than 50 summer day camps (cost varies)
• Apply to be a lifeguard or find a job through the city’s WorkReady program
• Find a community-based summer program
A list of programs funded by the William Penn Foundation can be found here. Additional resources can be found here.
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