MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – All of us parents know our children need something to do all summer long.
Well, there’s a summer camp in South Florida that’s not only keeping kids entertained, but also educated.
And the best part — it’s 100% free.
The camp is run by the YWCA of South Florida. It’s free for children in Miami-Dade who are in kindergarten through fifth grade.
“We want kids to just learn by doing, families to feel that they are having the most enriched summer, that their kids are safe, that they can go to work and not worry,” YWCA of South Florida President and CEO Kerry-Ann Royes said.
Nikki Reed, the YWCA’s director of youth programs, said, “So when they come in, they have their breakfast, they have their morning routine, opening ceremony. After that, our schedule is packed.”
“We have one hour of STEM with our science component, and an hour and a half with DLI, which is like our differentiated literacy component, where they’ll be working with a certified teacher and so much more,” she said.
Mother Tangela Axson said, “I’m super excited for my son today. He’s so happy to be here, and I am too.”
Local 10 News visited the Miami Gardens camp, but parents can’t make it out there have two other locations in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood and in the South Miami Heights area.
“We were very strategic in making sure we have a location in those areas spread out and making sure there’s a demand where the families need us and the community needs us,” Reed said. “Those areas are underrepresented, so that free summer camp is huge for those families and communities.”
Axson, who lives nearby, said it is a blessing for her son to have this hands-on experience this summer.
“I’m so excited for him to be here today because he gets this opportunity to be with students where he won’t be bullied,” she said. “I know I don’t have to worry about that. The curriculum is great for the summer, and I know he’s going to enjoy the experience.”
Funded by the Children’s Trust, the YWCA has availability for 30 students per class. They open as early as 8:30 a.m. and stay open until 6 p.m.
“The cost of quality childcare now outpaces the average cost of rent in all 50 states,” Royes said. “Let that settle.”
Royes said she believes childcare should be free.
“To me, we are doing what should be done. You shouldn’t need hundreds of dollars to teach a kid to swim, hundreds to go on field trips, make new friends, sing camp songs, be on a bus, and to go to our parks,” she said. “You shouldn’t have to break the bank to do that.”
As much as that means to the parents, the kids enjoy the experience even more.
“It’s actually really good!” 10-year-old Arian Montenegro said.
Ava Rosas, 7, said, “I get to make friends and spend time with them.”
Some families love the YWCA so much that they keep coming back.
“I mean, I think it’s great,” mother Krystle Dehaz said. “They have great activities for the kids, they talk to them about nutrition, a lot of different things, emotional stuff as well and they make friends here.”
Anthony Orozco, 9, said, “I’ve been coming here for three summers already. My favorite part is when we go out to the park because we get to play with our friends, play football and soccer. I’ve made a lot of friends.”
Royes said she wants to make sure kids are safe, they are exploring and learning, and that their summer program is bridging the gap.
“Community begins with us,” she said.
Registration for the YWCA is always open and the organization is always looking at the waiting list.
They’re capped at 30 students per location this year, but in the future, they are hoping to take in 60 or even 90 children per location because they say the demand is definitely there.
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