Day Camp 2007

Since the 1950’s North Light has run camp programs designed to fill the summer school hiatus with fun and enriching activities for the children of the community. As the social structure of the family and neighborhood changed, so did the summer programs to accommodate those changes. For example, when the need for a full day program became evident the camp expanded it’s traditional 9 am to 3 pm format to a 7:30 am to 6:00 PM time frame.

North Light Community Center’s Summer Day Camp strives to enable children and youth to attain the academic and technological competencies as well as the personal and social life skills they need to enter the workforce or higher education through a quality enrichment program during out-of-school time.

This year’s theme was "The Faces of Philadelphia."  Philadelphia is home to many cultures and ethnic groups residing in wonderful neighborhoods throughout the city and suburbs.  Looking at the many groups that make up our multi-cultural metropolis, camp participants saw a different “Face of Philadelphia” each week.  As campers explored each culture, activities involving music, food, literature, dance, art and sport were incorporated into the daily routine. Field trips and special events reinforced the lessons learned during the regular activities. 

With consideration for a range of age groups from preschool through 6th grade, campers participated in age appropriate activities with a variety of specialists, each planning and implementing activities according to their field of experience.  Emphasis was placed on supplemental education benefits, such as reading and literacy, and were incorporated into daily activities. Books reflecting the particular weeks culture were read to the pre-school and kindergarten age campers and for the older participants there was a "Reading Challenge" type of activity. Camp also reinforced positive values with theme centered activities.  Value lessons on important topics such as tolerance, leadership, sportsmanship, fair play and honesty were integrated into every camper’s experience.

Special Thanks to the following funders whose assistance helps keep our summer programs affordable!!! RichardsApex, The Elsie Lee Garthwaite Foundation, The Wachovia Foundation through Villanova University and The Seybert Institution

AT THE ZOO...

On Friday, July 13, 2007, as part of the Connections Retreat through the office of Campus Ministry at Villanova University, a group of VU students met their younger counterparts from North Light Community Center’s summer day camp for the third annual field trip to the Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown PA. Over 100 incoming freshmen, 60 campers, 13 members of North Light’s Building A Better Youth Program and numerous staff enjoyed a tour of the zoo, lunch under a tent and field games and prizes. This effort is only one piece of the NOVAL (North Light Villanova Alliance) an innovative partnership that couples the wide range of resources at a major university with the needs of a direct service, neighborhood based community organization. It is a reciprocal relationship in which North Light utilizes the talents and enthusiasm of Villanova students, faculty, staff and alumni who, in turn, learn first-hand from experienced human service professionals. NOVAL is unique in that it spans the entire range of agency operation, from one-on-one work with children to help with administrative functions, from support of fundraising efforts to assistance with the physical plant.

AT THE MANN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Campers went to two performances at the Mann during the month of July. They saw "Voices, Rhymes & Rhythms" and "Rock Rhapsody".

AT MERRYMEADE FARM

On August 2nd a bus trip to Lansdale, PA took the younger campers to Merrymeade Farm for a tour in a farm wagon to learn "The Story of Milk". From their seats they saw the fields and pastures of a working dairy farm where food is grown and the cows graze. They all saw some of the farm's and machinery and how cows are milked. They learned what kinds of foods we enjoy because if milk, especially the farm-fresh ice cream in a cone everyone enjoyed after a picnic lunch.

AT THE AMERICAN SWEDISH MUSEUM...

North Light Day Campers, pictured above from left, Rachel Becker Miller, Caitlyn Nanes and Emma Stokes roll ginger cookie dough as part of the activities on their field trip to the American Swedish Museum in FDR Park in South Philadelphia on August 9, 2007. The photo on the right shows Zanai Heard and Lauren Bennett kneading pretzel dough with cinnamon made from an authentic Swedish recipe. All of the campers were treated to a performance of Pippi Longstocking, a traditional Swedish tale as well. 

AT THE PHILADELPHIA ZOO

On Tuesday, August 14, 2007 the four to seven year old campers went to the Philadelphia Zoo for the day. Plenty of blue skies and sunshine prevailed throughout the day as the campers roamed about the zoo in small groups acompanied by counselors, CIT's (counselors in training) and parents. While strolling through the state-of-the-art exhibits and gardens, the youngsters were made aware of the zoo's mission to advance the discovery, understanding and stewardship of the natural world through compelling exhibition and interpretation of living animals and plants.

DOWN THE SHORE

Tuesday, August 21st found the campers on their final trip of the season to Atlantic City on the Jersey shore. 85 campers, along with counselors and parents had boarded buses and assorted vans to caravan "down the shore". Though the day was overcast, everyone happily hit the beach with their buckets, googles, noodles and boogie boards in a race to the surf. This annual trek has been a camp favorite for the past twelve years. It's always such a fun-filled day no one even has time to think about the casinos.

For information about the 2008 camp programs contact:
averbrugghe or kverbrugghe