Recent Immigrant Summer Enrichment
PBHA's Recent Immigrant Summer Enrichment, or RISE, is an evening Summer Urban Program camp serving recently immigrated teens from across Boston for seven weeks each summer.
APPLICATION INFORMATION:
RISE is free for all participants. Preference is given to returning campers and teens who have particular academic or financial need for the program. Families should submit one student application for each teen who wishes to enroll in camp.
Staff Contact Information:
Kerry McGowan
kerry@pbha.org
About RISE
In 1986, five Harvard undergraduates recognized the need for summertime English as a Second Language (ESL) programming among the growing refugee and immigrant communities of the Greater Boston Area. Establishing PBHA's Recent Immigrant Summer Enrichment (RISE) program, these students dedicated themselves to serving high-school aged immigrants and refugees by improving their English language skills, addressing the gap in SAT scores between native speakers and English Language Learners, and broadening their access to college and higher learning institutions. Now entering its 33rd year, RISE continues to provide affordable, intensive ESL instruction and college preparation to low-income to recent immigrant and refugee high school students. Unlike the rest of the PBHA's Summer Urban Program, RISE is an evening camp, operating from 4:00-7:00 PM at the Boston International Newcomers Academy (BINcA).
WORK AT RISE
RISE, like all Summer Urban Program camps, is run by college students who serve as directors and senior counselors, or teachers, in the camp.Directors oversee all camp operations, working through the spring and summer to train and supervise camp staff, manage finances, and ensure high program quality. Learn more about directing RISE.
Teachers manage a classroom of 10 teens throughout the summer, implementing a self-designed academic curriculum, supervising field trips and community service projects, and supporting the operations of their camp. Learn more about working as a teacher.
In addition to its college-age staff, RISE employs high school students as co-teachers. Teens partner with a teacher to co-teach a class and participate in leadership workshops throughout the summer. The majority of SUP’s teen counselors once attended the same camp in which they work; many co-teachers at RISE were once campers in the program. Learn more about working as a co-teacher.