York Day Early Learning Launches Summer Camp Program

York Day Early Learning families are a tight-knit group. Parents who were students at YDEL have returned to the organization to have their children attend, and some have even returned to teach at the very place where their educational journey began.

“We are constantly looking at the needs of our families and ways that we can fill those gaps,” shares Sara Bradly, YDEL’s Executive Director. “As a whole, our community needs high-quality summer camp programs, especially for older children. To address this need, we applied for a grant from Every Child Has Opportunities (ECHO), an early childhood education initiative in York County, Pennsylvania, led by Community Connections for Children and York County Economic Alliance.”

The grant enabled YDEL to host a Department of Health (DHS)- licensed summer camp for children aged 12 and under. Expanding summer camp to include older kids who have aged out of the early learning environment, YDEL continues to support the whole family. The ten-week program is designed to maximize community partnerships, providing a blend of field trips, on-site activities, and a strong focus on reading. Each week, summer camp participants enjoy the following schedule:

·       Mondays and Thursdays involve activities at York Day Early Learning, where older participants can help read books to younger children.

·       Tuesdays are spent learning to swim at the Graham Aquatic Center.

·       Wednesdays are for field trips at a variety of local destinations.

·       Fridays, the kids enjoy the summer reading program at Martin Library and grab a snack from a downtown York business.

A focus for York Day has been expanding local partnerships, and their Summer Camp is no exception, with thoughtful collaborations planned with the following York County nonprofits: Byrnes Health Education Center, Martin Library, Leg Up Farm, YMCA of the Roses, and Keystone Kidspace.

Demand for a high-quality summer camp was confirmed, with overwhelming interest resulting in a waitlist of 60 children.