Julie Kushner

SEN. KUSHNER WELCOMES 2023, 2024 ENRICHMENT GRANTS FOR SUMMER CAMPS IN DANBURY & RIDGEFIELD

DANBURY– State Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury) today welcomed $400,000 in federal aid for summer enrichment programs at four summer camps in Danbury and Ridgefield for 2023 and 2024.

Established by Governor Ned Lamont in 2021 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Connecticut Summer Enrichment Program connects grade K-12 students whose education may have been negatively impacted by the pandemic with low-cost or no-cost, high-quality enrichment opportunities when they are out of school during the summer months.

The grants include $100,000 each for the Jericho Maple Avenue Learning Program and the Jericho Spring Street Learning Program in Danbury, and $100,000 each for the Boys & Girls Clubs at 10 and 41 Governor Street in Ridgefield. 110 organizations in Connecticut are being awarded more than $13 million in grants from federal COVID-19 relief dollars, including from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund.
“School will be out soon, and summer enrichment programs like these will keep kids on track academically and potentially result in higher graduation rates down the road. I’m excited for all the possibilities that these grants will provide our young students,” Sen. Kushner said.

Jericho’s Summer Learning Program is designed to combat the out-of-school “summer slide” among kindergartners through 12th grade students who come from low-income, inner-city families and who are at risk of dropping out of school. K-5th graders participate in a seven-week, full-day camp that supports a child’s academic success, through programs that reinforce reading, math, and bible studies, and 6th-12th are involved in seven-week, full-day programming that reinforces skills students need for success in high school and beyond, with group and one-to-one tutoring.

The Boys & Girls Club of Ridgefield is a youth activity center designed to offer programs for school-aged children after school and during vacations in five core areas: The Arts, Character & Leadership, Education, Health & Life Skills, and Sports, Fitness & Recreation. Club programs and services promote and enhance the development of boys & girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence.