Summer camps are emerging as an important way to help children retain learning over the summer months, and help to close the achievement gap between children from households with low-incomes and their peers.
Through generous support from OCCH and partners, more than 700 youth attend various camps each summer throughout the OCCH portfolio. As a signature program within the Ohio Capital Impact Corporation (OCIC), summer camp helps kids expand their vision and allows them to dream bigger. Quality summer camp programs with opportunities for experiential learning help to ensure that children are gaining, not losing, ground both academically and socially over the summer. These camps afford kids the opportunity to learn, explore, play, and form positive social relationships in structured, yet flexible and fun ways that complement their regular classroom learning experiences. Camp attendees learn to work cooperatively, face challenges and find solutions together and individually while engaging with others in a creative environment that teaches them the skills needed for success throughout life. Children within the OCCH portfolio attend nearly 35 camps throughout Ohio and Kentucky each year. Children and youth have the option to participate in local YMCA camps, day camp or overnight stays, week-long camps, or summer-long camps.