Smarty Pants Summer Camp
Donation protected
Who We Are Here To Help
We would like to tell you about a group of students with learning disabilities who have declared themselves learning abled. Not with their words but their accomplishments in their class each and every day. They have dubbed themselves 'The Golden Grecos' in honour of their learning support teacher. Two local high students who were graduates of a local leadership program LEED secured funding to work with Ms. Greco's class for 12 weeks. Education Involved Advocacy Group having been a part of LEED helped with the programming and preparation for the 12 week program. Shortly after meeting the students however, all involved agreed they would be volunteering for the duration of the school year. #learningabled
Why They Need Our Help
When we found out the funds for the ISP program would not be available at the senior level we promised to look into avenues to provide extended support in preparation for their upcoming school year without the added support. Besides, just because additional learning takes place in the summer does not mean it cannot be fun. #experientiallearning
Our Idea
Our first idea was to build a 3 week summer camp which would provide a balanced schedule of healthy active living, critical thinking, and adventure in experiential learning opportunities. With activities that range from a Chefs challenge to science based hikes and a dance choreography, these kids agreed to engage and support each other through some fun adventures and personal challenges as they prepare for one of the biggest years in their education. Pretty amazing sense of ownership and drive to learn for a student any age. #thatswhatwecallsmart
Time To Make Something Happen
Then a perfect opportunity for community collaboration came along. We connected with the TCDSB program; Focus on Youth (FOY) This amazing program provides counsellors and space in schools to camps and community organizations while employing high school credits and offering the opportunity to obtain credits. An amazing experiential learning opportunity for any student to apply to. There was just one catch, FOY camp was 6 weeks, which meant our costs just doubled; a good obstacle to be dealing with but an obstacle nonetheless.#gotime
So a 3 week independent camp had turned into a community partnership with a local school board (TCDSB), a sponsoring community charity (Jane Finch Centre) and us (Education Involved). Together we will be able to offer a camp experience that will offer credits and summer employment to high school students, mentorship, support strategies and a summer of learning and adventure to grade 6 students with learning disabilities. #morethanonewaytolearn
The best part is the grade 6 students want to be involved in building the camp. We negotiated with them that in return for their hard work and dedication as our camp consultants not only would they be able to attend camp but the following year when we are able to develop this into a program for students across Ontario (something that can generate ongoing revenues as we are a social enterprise) we would start educational savings plans (RESP) for all of our junior campers. They drive a hard bargain these kids. We even agreed to continue to contribute to them for as long as the camp runs allowing funds to be passed on to others who can use the support and that this meant they were leaving a legacy. They were proud of that in an instant. #kidschangingfutures
What It Will Cost To Launch The Best Summer Camp Ever
The cost of developing and running the camp will be $555/student/week, but we are not looking for that kind of money here. We understand how difficult that would be to raise in such short time, however there is a way for us to do so. Our goal is to raise $4000 so that we can subscribe to a private database (Foundations Search) where thousands of funders connect with organizations such as ourselves and are able to be more specific as to how their charitable donations are spent. We simply cannot yet compete with the larger organizations when it comes to public grants. #awholnotherballgame
It is simple, $4000 will afford us access to funders who could make this kind of thing happen in the time period we need. We need 100 people out there to donate $40. These kids have not always had the best experience in school as often learning disabilities can manifest in behavioural issues, disengagement or the feeling that they are stupid and do not belong. That is not the case, these students know it, believe it and want to show others that just because you learn in a different way it does not mean you are not smart, creative, innovative and brilliant. Help us make Smarty Pants Summer Camp a reality and long term support in the community.
Follow us here and at www.educationinvolved.org
Thank You Kindly For Your Time
Paul Raso
Executive Director
Education Involved Advocacy Group
We would like to tell you about a group of students with learning disabilities who have declared themselves learning abled. Not with their words but their accomplishments in their class each and every day. They have dubbed themselves 'The Golden Grecos' in honour of their learning support teacher. Two local high students who were graduates of a local leadership program LEED secured funding to work with Ms. Greco's class for 12 weeks. Education Involved Advocacy Group having been a part of LEED helped with the programming and preparation for the 12 week program. Shortly after meeting the students however, all involved agreed they would be volunteering for the duration of the school year. #learningabled
Why They Need Our Help
When we found out the funds for the ISP program would not be available at the senior level we promised to look into avenues to provide extended support in preparation for their upcoming school year without the added support. Besides, just because additional learning takes place in the summer does not mean it cannot be fun. #experientiallearning
Our Idea
Our first idea was to build a 3 week summer camp which would provide a balanced schedule of healthy active living, critical thinking, and adventure in experiential learning opportunities. With activities that range from a Chefs challenge to science based hikes and a dance choreography, these kids agreed to engage and support each other through some fun adventures and personal challenges as they prepare for one of the biggest years in their education. Pretty amazing sense of ownership and drive to learn for a student any age. #thatswhatwecallsmart
Time To Make Something Happen
Then a perfect opportunity for community collaboration came along. We connected with the TCDSB program; Focus on Youth (FOY) This amazing program provides counsellors and space in schools to camps and community organizations while employing high school credits and offering the opportunity to obtain credits. An amazing experiential learning opportunity for any student to apply to. There was just one catch, FOY camp was 6 weeks, which meant our costs just doubled; a good obstacle to be dealing with but an obstacle nonetheless.#gotime
So a 3 week independent camp had turned into a community partnership with a local school board (TCDSB), a sponsoring community charity (Jane Finch Centre) and us (Education Involved). Together we will be able to offer a camp experience that will offer credits and summer employment to high school students, mentorship, support strategies and a summer of learning and adventure to grade 6 students with learning disabilities. #morethanonewaytolearn
The best part is the grade 6 students want to be involved in building the camp. We negotiated with them that in return for their hard work and dedication as our camp consultants not only would they be able to attend camp but the following year when we are able to develop this into a program for students across Ontario (something that can generate ongoing revenues as we are a social enterprise) we would start educational savings plans (RESP) for all of our junior campers. They drive a hard bargain these kids. We even agreed to continue to contribute to them for as long as the camp runs allowing funds to be passed on to others who can use the support and that this meant they were leaving a legacy. They were proud of that in an instant. #kidschangingfutures
What It Will Cost To Launch The Best Summer Camp Ever
The cost of developing and running the camp will be $555/student/week, but we are not looking for that kind of money here. We understand how difficult that would be to raise in such short time, however there is a way for us to do so. Our goal is to raise $4000 so that we can subscribe to a private database (Foundations Search) where thousands of funders connect with organizations such as ourselves and are able to be more specific as to how their charitable donations are spent. We simply cannot yet compete with the larger organizations when it comes to public grants. #awholnotherballgame
It is simple, $4000 will afford us access to funders who could make this kind of thing happen in the time period we need. We need 100 people out there to donate $40. These kids have not always had the best experience in school as often learning disabilities can manifest in behavioural issues, disengagement or the feeling that they are stupid and do not belong. That is not the case, these students know it, believe it and want to show others that just because you learn in a different way it does not mean you are not smart, creative, innovative and brilliant. Help us make Smarty Pants Summer Camp a reality and long term support in the community.
Follow us here and at www.educationinvolved.org
Thank You Kindly For Your Time
Paul Raso
Executive Director
Education Involved Advocacy Group
Organizer
Paul Raso
Organizer
North York, ON
