The Summer Urban Program (SUP) had a very successful summer in 2009! Our twelve camps once again ran smoothly, serving almost 1,000 youth from the greater Boston area. Over eighty senior counselors paired with about 100 junior counselors to create fun, academic environments for children across the city.

Great work occurred at all of our sites this summer. The Boston Refugee Youth Enrichment (BRYE) Summer Program was able to outreach to a very diverse group of campers, serving children from many different countries with English as a Second Language instruction. Chinatown Adventure (CHAD) completed a junior counselor-run science day, which was closely linked to its camp-wide focus on health. The Cambridge Youth Enrichment Program (CYEP) continued its close collaboration among its three sites in Cambridge, providing interaction among children from across the city. Similarly, the Keylatch Summer Program (KSP), Mission Hill Summer Program (MHSP), and Roxbury Youth Initiative (RYI) were able to collaborate all together for the first time, bringing together students who lived in neighborhoods that have historically had tension.

The Franklin I-O (FIO) Summer Program was able to continue its consistent service to the Franklin community, despite neighborhood changes, and able to maintain a curricular focus on violence prevention. The Native American Youth Enrichment Program (NAYEP) went on three-day camping trip to tribal grounds in Cape Cod. The Refugee Youth Summer Enrichment (RYSE) Program initiated a host of new programming, including outside of camp SAT classes and weekly all-camp field trips. South Boston Outreach Summer (SBOS) began work with the nearby Laboure center, solidifying its strong ties with the South Boston community.

In addition, SUP took it’s first ever trip to Washington D.C. with all the programs. Sixty students attending representing the different camps. This four day trip was reserved for students who were graduating from the programs, and was a great success. Students from different programs and neighborhoods were able to interact, and got to see such exciting sites as the white house, capitol, U.S. mint, national zoo, and many more.

–Jessica Ranucci, Summer Urban Program Programming Group Officer

“Absolutely life changing. I finally understand why it is so hard to explain what SUP is and how it has impacted a person once you’ve been involved in it. The experience is multifaceted and beyond anything I have ever experienced thus far in my life” -CYEP

“It’s the hardest, yet one of the most rewarding things I’ve done. Prepare yourself for the unexpected and for some truly crazy days. In the process, you’ll build so many strong relationships, and you will definitely come out of it knowing yourself a little more.” -MHSP

“My growth this summer can not be explained by one story. The over all experience I had this summer has completely transformed me as a person. I have gained experience that I could never get from an ordinary summer job.” -CHAD

“Waking up in the morning knowing that I’m not only giving my campers an enriching summer of learning and fun, but that I was gaining so much as they challenged me to become a better counselor, teacher, mentor, and ultimately to a better person is the most fulfilling experience.” -RYI

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