Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Say Yes! Buffalo and Buffalo Public Schools announced on Tuesday the opening day of free summer camps programs for kids within the district in grades pre-Kindergarten-to-sixth grade.
Say Yes! Buffalo's CEO David Rust mentions that this summer is there biggest season yet, as over 1,800 students will participate in 31 locations throughout the city.
"They've got really wonderful opportunities for art, for music, for science, for reading and for math, to play sports and to have fun with their friends during the summer and that's what the camp is all about, a great mix of academic enrichment and fun supports for students during the summer."
In addition to continued learning, field trips and establishing stronger connections with their peers, summer camp students will also have the opportunity to take part in Mobile Health Clinics, where they will have access to primary care services; racial equity training for fifth and sixth grade students led by Say Yes Buffalo’s Breaking Barriers Boys and Men of Color Initiative; and participation in Mayor Brown’s Reading Rules Summer Reading Challenge. Summer camps will also continue to have improved behavioral health supports including healing circles and social-emotional skill groups to help students.
"Summer Camp offers an invaluable experience for our students. And we hear incredibly positive feedback from students and their families year in and year out," adds Michael Derr, Director of Community Affairs of Buffalo's University District Community Development Association
"Every summer we see growth in students reading and math abilities from the end of the previous school year to the start of the next as well as improvements in social and emotional skills."
Major funding for summer camp comes from Buffalo Public Schools, the Cullen Foundation, Erie County, and the City of Buffalo. Additional funding comes from the Garman Foundation, the Stenclik Foundation, Erie County Legislators April Baskin and Mike Kooshoian, and Buffalo Common Councilmembers Leah Halton-Pope, Chris Scanlon, Bryan Bollman, Joel Feroleto, and David Rivera.