LEARN Resource Center recently wrapped up its first ever eight-week summer program in Monroeville at The Monroeville Community Park, and its yearly nine-week summer program in New Haven at Grace Gathering Church.
The new part day summer program in Monroeville served a total of 37 children. This program was free and open to students in grades K- 6. During the program, kids had the opportunity to do a variety of crafts, group games, and enrichment activities to help bridge the learning gap that occurs during the summer. Participants also went on field trips to places like Science Central and the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo which offered high impact learning opportunities. Executive Director, Sharon Wilson, says she hopes LEARN can offer this program again next summer with extended program hours.
During the day long Summer LEARN Program in New Haven, 80 children did similar activities, and ended the summer with a performance for their parents that included a Readers Theatre production of Cinderella and dancing and drumming routines taught to the children by The Fort Wayne Dance Collective.
In addition to two summer programs, LEARN Resource Center also operated four summer lunch sites where children ages 1-18 could come June 5 – July 28 to receive a free lunch. According to Wilson, the summer meal program in Monroeville served a total of 1,091 meals to both summer program students and community members. The three lunch sites in New Haven were Grace Gathering Church, Schnelker Park, and Meadowbrook Park. The combined number of lunches served at these three sites from June 5 – July 28 was 3,698. This count includes children served in the LEARN summer program.
LEARN Resource Center would like to acknowledge its appreciation to the Monroeville Park Department, Monroeville Chamber of Commerce and the New Haven Parks Department for partnering with LEARN to make these summer programs possible.
LEARN Resource Center is a grassroots nonprofit in New Haven serving the community of East Allen County for over 50 years. In addition to its summer programs, LEARN offers before and after school programs at New Haven Primary and New Haven Intermediate, and an after school program at Heritage Elementary. For more information, or to make a donation go to www.learnresourcecenter.org.
