2007 Summer Camp Report
City Gate in partnership with National Baptist Memorial Church
On behalf of the staff, children, youth, and families of City Gate, thanks to everyone who worked to make our Summer Day Camp 2007 at National Baptist a huge success!
Overall 71 children and youth, ages 5-15, attend the camp, with an average attendance each day of 40 participants. Camp was 9 weeks long, with over 42 hours of programming each week. Participants enjoyed a varied curriculum including academics, music, spoken word, art, field trips, sports, expeditionary learning, and community service. They also learned about a wide range of community and social issues, such as nutrition, homelessness, AIDS/HIV, and global warming. Participants of all ages completed community service projects. Our youth passed out meals to homeless men and women in the park and applied decals to area storm drains encouraging people to keep local rivers clean. Younger children hand-made cards of encouragement that were mailed to wounded US soldiers through the U.S.O. Through DC Parks and Recreations Free Summer Meals Program and the Capitol Area Food Bank's Kids Café Program, we were able to serve over 8,000 meals. For some of the children, the food we provide throughout the day was only the food they eat Monday – Friday.
Left, children reading on a field trip. Right, playing in the sand at Splashdown Waterpark in VA
In addition we had 8 DOES Summer Youth Workers and two dedicated youth volunteers who have served as camp assistants, helping with the younger campers, cleaning and maintaining the building, serving meals and working in the kitchen, and completing community service projects. Through the financial help of National Baptist, we were able to hire a Youth Instructor to spend 10 hours each week working with the summer youth workers, instructing them on subjects such as personal economics, Bible study, abstinence training, and community service.
City Gate's Urban Hands program had the involvement of over 160 volunteers from 6 different churches working in the summer day camp, doing maintenance and repair of the facilities, or reaching out to the community at National Baptist this summer. Urban Hands groups have provided more than 100 hours of service in the summer day camp, leading Bible activities, crafts, music, games, and even treating our kids to field trips such as a Nationals baseball game. They also did completed large-scale facilities improvement projects, including painting hallways, work on the baptistery, and work or the water leakage problem at National Baptist.
Left, youth workers and middle school campers cleaned out storm drains in the neighborhood and applied decals encouraging people not to pollute. Right, campers held a special performance at the end of camp, complete with plays, skits, and spoken-word.
A Different Perspective on Camp
Evan Powell, CG Site Coordinator, and Rev. Kasey Jones, pastor of National Baptist, at a carnival hosted by Urban Hands group from Wilkesboro Baptist Church of Wilkesboro, NC
Our Site Coordinator, Evan Powell, had the follow stories to share, as examples of the concrete ways we have been able to help the community:
- A little girl who soiled her clothes one day at camp. Her teacher instructed her to take her wet underwear home to her grandmother and tell her that they need to be washed. This little girl came to camp the next day without underwear because she only had one pair. She had been wearing the same clothes all week as well.
- One desperate mother was practically in tears calling and asking if we had anymore room at the camp for her child. Finding programming for children the last weeks of the summer is so difficult. She was thrilled to know that her daughter wouldn't have to be hopping from family member to family member but instead have some structure again in her life.
- Another little boy, a five year old, struggled endlessly with his behavior in class. When he started, he was habitual in trouble for mistreating other children. One day he surprised his class by bring in a bunch of his own toys from home just for them to share. While he continued to struggle with his behavior, we were thrilled by the progress he was making in his relationships to others.
Outcomes of the Camp
For each program City Gate starts and operates, we set certain goals related to the experiences and accomplishments of the children and youth who attend the camp. Below is a summary of some the more measurable progress participants have made in areas such as academics, literacy, attitudes, and awareness of the world around them.
Goal #1: Children and youth will better their academic skills and reduce summer learning loss.
What we accomplished
Children ages 5-7 mastered an average of 5 basic math skills over the summer, making progress on an average of 9 math skills with an average of 56% mastery of all skills. Using kindergarten, first, and second grade language arts assessments, on average children improved their skills by 34%. Children ages 8-11 learned skills in geometry and measurement, with an average of 60% mastery of skills throughout the whole class. 20% of children mastered 90% or more of the math skills taught. Language arts assessments for third, fourth, and fifth grade showed an average improvement of 8% overall. Youth ages 12-15 learned skills in geometry & measurement, statistics & probability, and patterns & functions, with an average of 78% mastery overall. Language arts assessments for seventh and eighth grade showed an average improvement of 5% overall.
Goal #2: Children and youth will have increased informational, multicultural, reading/writing, and technological literacy.
What we accomplished
All children consistently engaged in activities that supported an increase in their informational, multicultural, reading/writing, and technological literacy. As a result 40% of children/youth displayed significant gains in one or more of these literacy areas. The vast majority (>90%) of children/youth showed at least minor gains in one or more of these literacy areas. 10% of children/youth showed significant improvement in all four literacy areas.
Goal #3: Children and youth will display increased positive attitudes and behaviors.
What we accomplished
About half of our students made measurable gains in the several areas related to behavior and attitude, the most common improvements occurred in listening skills, working hard, positive attitudes, speaking skills, self-identity, confidence, teamwork, and mental focus.
Goal #4: Children and youth will be involved in community service.
What we accomplished
Participants of all ages completed community service projects. Our youth passed out meals to homeless men and women in the park and applied decals to area storm drains encouraging people to keep local rivers clean. Younger children hand-made cards of encouragement that were mailed to wounded US soldiers through the U.S.O.
Goal #5: Children and youth will have a greater understanding of their community and the world around them.
What we accomplished
Through our expeditionary learning curriculum, children and youth have learned about a wide range of community and social issues, such as nutrition, homelessness, AIDS/HIV, and global warming. Children and youth also participated in field trips on average twice each week, including trips out-of-town to Baltimore and Annapolis.
Left, a volunteer from American University enjoys the bean bags with our kids. Right, two City Gate aides, Shannon Powell (left) and Evangeline Cade (right)
Continuing into the fall
We have begun an after-school program, with an emphasis on homework help, academic enrichment, and volunteer tutoring. We are also working with National Baptist on ways reach out more to program families as well as the Columbia Heights community, such as opening a clothing closet. Please prayerfully consider being involved in what hopefully will become a year-round after-school program at National Baptist.
As we prepare to meet the most important needs of our children and families in the coming months, would you consider donating some of the following?
- Gas station gift cards
- Grocery store gift cards
- New toys and clothes for children ages 5-18
- Non-perishable food items
- Arts and craft supplies
- Used but working musical instruments
Even better, would you consider sponsoring a child over the course of the school year? It costs us approximately $2,500 to provide each child with quality after-school programming, a hot meal, and special events such as field trips and holiday celebrations such as Christmas dinner. Right now we have enough funds to have 20 kids in our after-school program, will you help us reach our goal of 40 participants?
Please prayerfully consider being involved in what hopefully will become a year-round after-school program at National Baptist.