FORT WAYNE – A remarkable collaboration between Wellspring Interfaith Social Services and downtown Fort Wayne religious congregations that provides a cure for the summer time blues has earned a 2009 Indiana Youth Investment Award from the Indiana Youth Institute (IYI).
The Wellspring Summer Day Camp provides seven weeks of summer camp primarily for Fort Wayne neighborhoods struggling with a poverty rate of 18 percent – 5 percentage points higher than the national average.
Research from the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) reveals that two-thirds of the academic achievement gap suffered by low-income children is created during the summer, when students are out of school. Wellspring is helping fill that gap.
“We focus on the kids who otherwise would not be in a structured summer camp,” said Wellspring director Frank Zirille. “The kids in our camp have somebody paying attention to them, and they know someone cares about them. If not for our camp, they’d be sitting around and doing nothing, or just watching TV.”
Wellspring’s Summer Day Camp is an outstanding example of how collaborations can address pressing needs within a community, said IYI President and CEO Bill Stanczykiewicz.
“For a variety of reasons, low-income children often don’t have access to summer camps or summer educational programs,” Stanczykiewicz said. “But Wellspring and its partners have addressed those issues, particularly cost and transportation, and are providing a program that meets the National Summer Learning Association’s criteria for excellence.”
All of Wellspring’s programs are offered at no cost. Transportation is provided each day to five different camp sites donated by local congregations. The students enjoy weekly instruction on art, dance, music and yoga. All campers then gather at a local public park for lunch and physical activities.
Each week includes a field trip to locations such as the local zoo, the roller skating rink, the bowling alley or the local putt-putt golf course. In addition, Zirille says the campers work on community service projects. |
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“We do community service projects to teach these low-income kids that they have something to offer. Yes, them,” Zirille explained. “They have something they can give to others and to their local community.”
Zirille finds strength in the program’s diversity. “Our kids are Black, white, Latino, Asian, bi-racial. Our camp is like the United Nations,” he said. “Our camp allows kids to mix with kids from other cultures.”
Diversity also is evident among Wellspring’s partners. The camp is supported by a collaboration of 16 religious congregations – Jewish, Catholic and Protestant.
“Wellspring and local congregations are committed to serving the core of Fort Wayne,” Zirille said. “By partnering we are able to provide needed services and programs for youth, seniors and families.”
The camp’s activities are designed in the context of the 40 Developmental Assets, and Zirille says one strategy in particular is key. “We treat kids with dignity and respect,” he said, “so they learn how to treat others with dignity and respect.”
The Wellspring Summer Day Camp is one of ten recipients of a 2009 Indiana Youth Investment Award and was selected from nearly 200 applicants. In addition to the $5,000 check, award winners will receive free admission to the Indiana Youth Institute's 2009 Kids Count in Indiana Conference, December 1 and 2.
The Indiana Youth Institute promotes the healthy development of children and youth by serving the institutions and people of Indiana who work on their behalf. |
