Detroit Kids Will Experience Summer Adventure

Post a Comment » Written on June 29th, 2009     
Filed under: News
DETROIT, MI (June 29, 2009) – Thanks to a donation from three German churches and volunteers from Hope Community Covenant Church, kids in an underserved area of Detroit will have the opportunity to build miniature solar-powered cars, take a field trip to an African American museum, and learn dances from cultures around the world.

Three German congregations gave $16,000 to the church so Hope could put on the Kids Summer Adventure (KSA) for a second year. The continued financial downturn in Detroit had left the church unable to sponsor the event this year.

Many of the German leaders were familiar with the program, having participated during a visit to the city last year. The Internet will enable the donors to keep up with what is happening in this year’s event.

“We’ll set up a Facebook page for Summer Adventure so the people in Germany can access the pictures and video and make comments,” says Ernie Browne, who administers the project.

The church is collaborating with 14 nonprofit organizations and several local schools to publicize the program. Hope already has been building relationships with the community.

A lot of children in the area come to the church, says Browne. “Our church is like a magnet for the kids.”

Browne says he expects anywhere from 30 to 40 kids to participate in the program, and as many as 20 volunteers will make sure the event runs well. Nearly all of the donated funds will be used for the program, Browne says. The remaining funds will be used for seed money for next year’s KSA.

The various camps and events will enable the students to explore science, culture, and history that they might not otherwise have the opportunity to do, Browne says.

One of the programs is an intermediate and advanced level science camp for children ages 10 to 14. Hope member Debora Wilson developed the camp, which will run four days a week for two weeks.

Wilson and three state-certified science educators will expose the students to a curriculum that includes chemistry, physics, biology and microbiology, as well as “green” initiatives. Students also will build a solar car as well as a hydro fuel cell car, create a periodic table, and make a replica of an atom.
The Bible Adventure program will run two weeks. Carla Butcher will lead the Bible study program. The students she tutors during the school year requested she start the Bible study. The kids will receive a bible, notebooks and other printed materials.

The other camps run a week and are held in the afternoon. They include:

•    Character and Team Building Camp will be based on a course from the nonprofit organization True Success. The week will be augmented with a trip to the Charles H. Wright African American Museum, in the Cultural Center of Detroit.
•    Hope Community World of Dance – the church is partnering with the nonprofit organization Living Arts to deliver dance and art instruction. Living Arts will provide professional dance and art instructors and will deliver a program that will expose them to cultures around the world.
•    Sports Camp will be held at venues near the church. Special t-shirts will be given each of the students.
•    A field trip to Buffalo Soldiers stable in Rouge Park will give kids the opportunity to learn history as well as ride ponies. The group gets its name from the U.S. Army Black Calvary units of the 1800s. Many of the group’s horses are retired from the Detroit Police Department’s Mounted Division.
•    A Kids Fun Day Festival will include inflatable playscapes, dunk tank, face painting, and food and beverages. It will be held in the Faith Church parking lot.

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