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Community Lodgings is grateful to each of its year-around and Summer Camp partners. Summer Camp alliance partners include Abiding Presence Lutheran Church in Burke, VA, Grace Episcopal Church, and St. Paul's Episcopal Church for the hundreds of food bags, household and hygiene items each of these congregations have supplied over the summer and year! We're also grateful to HomeAid who delivered a large quantity of diapers for families living in Chirilagua-Arlandria!
There's more! Abiding Presence Lutheran Church also provided two weeks of camp facilitation activities and volunteer staffing providing interactive, fun, and educational activities for our students, such as tie dyeing shirts, balloon races, marshmallow spaghetti towers, building competitions, arts and crafts, and supported students in their reading/literacy activities.
Our joy and gratitude continues with thankful hearts to ALIVE!, Alexandria City Public Schools, Alexandria Summer Youth Employment Program, Cake4Kids, Clipper Round the World Yacht Race Crew, Ms. LaNae W. for the terrarium-making experience, New Brookside Apartments/Alexandria Community Services Corporation, Taco Bell on King Street and Taco Bell Foundation for giving our students access to end-of-school year events, exploration activities, and field trips. Having the opportunity to participate in academic enrichment activities and trips reinforces our programming, and helps pique students' curiosity and build their confidence.
As students are being introduced to new experiences, exploring new concepts, having fun using their imaginations, and learning, we also continue to focus on literacy and math to ensure they are prepared for the next grade level.
Summer Highlights!
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Our Summer Camp began on June 22. Each day, we set aside one hour for reading and one hour of math each day to minimize 'summer slide', or learning loss. Campers receive a snack daily, attend one field trip per week, play sports, express themselves through creative art, have open play time, and go swimming twice each week, which also includes one time with a swim instructor.
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During the last two months, students visited the National Zoo, National Museum of the American Latino where they learned about the history of salsa rhythm and different composers. Our middle and high school students visited Urban Air as an end-of-school year trip. Students also loved their visit to the LEGO Discovery Center where they built creations, rode the LEGO train, played in the gym, watched the animated movie with special effects, and met Ninjago LEGO man. Several students exclaimed, "This is the best day ever". Additionally, they were excited to visit Taco Bell King Street for a behind the scenes tour, the SW Wharf in Washington, D.C., Plant House, and to learn about Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Read on for more information.
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Seven high school students visited Taco Bell on King Street for a behind-the-scenes look at the operations and facility. Taco Bell then treated them to a meal! For the second year, Taco Bell Foundation awarded Community Lodgings with a remarkable grant supporting the Next Up Program that includes college tours and vocational opportunities, and introduces students to 'what's next' after high school, to include front & back of the house tours/introductions at a local restaurant.
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Twelve, 4th and 5th grade students visited the SW Washington, D.C. Waterfront/Wharf to learn about the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Students were invited to tour the boat, learn about the race, and meet the crew! This was an unique experience for our students as many have never been on a boat or yacht. The crew graciously treated them to ice cream after the visit!
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Ms. LaNae W. generously partnered with our Youth Education Program staff to ensure that students could register and attend a local jellyfish terrarium workshop at Plant House in late June. As a long time contributor and supporter, she collaborated with us once again to create a first-time student experience! The kids had a fantastic time designing and creating their terrariums with live plants and colorful decorations. Photos are in the collage above.
Do you have ideas for educational or experiential field trips for our students and want to share your support?
Reach out to Shelli Vasser Gilliam at svgilliam@community-lodgings.org or 703-549-4407.
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