A Parent’s Peace of Mind
Nationally, on July 12th, we celebrate summer learning. Summer is a time of year for kids to enjoy themselves during the break from school. However, it’s also important for kids to continue to work on vital skills during summer.
Summer camps provide kids with awesome opportunities to learn, grow and just have fun. A great summer camp program also gives parents the peace of mind that comes with knowing your child is in a safe, fun and nurturing environment.
Anitra Bender is a parent whose son, Samuel, attends Operation Shoestring’s Project Rise summer camp in the heart of Jackson. She says when Samuel, a 6th grader, is dropped off at camp, she and her husband can breathe a sigh of relief because they know he is in good hands with trained staff and volunteers.
Recently, Anitra publicly declared in a Facebook post how grateful she is to Operation Shoestring. “My baby LOVES going to camp! He is all smiles each day that I pick him up!! They have been to the Civil Rights Museum, Funtime Skating Rink, MS Sports Hall of Fame, just to name a few places … Thanks, Operation Shoestring!!!!!”, she said.
For working parents, the opportunity to enroll their children in an enriching, accessible summer program is phenomenal. And in the spring, as the summer months draw near and the need for childcare increases, parents all over the country enter crisis mode thinking about where their children will be for the two-and-a-half months that school’s out. Needless to say, it’s really important for parents looking for summer programs for their kids to look hard at the academic experiences, interventions and excursions offered in summer camps. Programs need to be fun, well planned and engaging. They need to be places where kids can learn and grow, and where kids can enjoy the summer. We think we’ve got that going on here at Operation Shoestring, and we want that for all of Jackson’s kids.
Of course, meaningful summer camps are made possible by the support of people who want to see kids doing their best. Like you. By giving time as a volunteer, making a donation, or simply being an advocate for having awesome summer programs for children, we can all to contribute to their development and success. And that’s good for everyone.