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Summers have changed since many of us were kids. While many of us spent endless hours finding ways to break our boredom, today’s kids use summertime to gain needed skills, advance their talents and work experience, and generally develop into young adults. Many are thinking about their future earlier than most of us ever did, always considering opportunities that will help them get a head start on their careers and life experiences.
Thankfully, various options exist for children and their parents in Miami-Dade County. The Children’s Trust and a myriad of partners know how important the summer can be not only to help children and youth progress, but also to prevent the dreaded summer slide during which they can lose the learning and skills gained over the school year.
There are hundreds of summer camps and programming options for parents, with many that are either free or low-cost, depending on family income. That’s why The Trust has partnered again with Miami-Dade County, Miami-Dade County Public Schools and Jewish Community Services of South Florida (JCS) to list all of our summer camp options in one place as part of the More Summer Camp Choices initiative. Parents can simply visit www.211miami.org/summercamps and scroll through hundreds of options, including searching by zip code. They can also call the 2-1-1 Helpline for assistance finding programming.
Parents can also look directly at The Children’s Trust website for summer camp options from the Find a Program page, TheChildrensTrust.org/Find-A-Program. Trust-funded summer camps provide enriching summer experiences focusing on academic support, decreasing risky behaviors, and keeping kids engaged. They also offer activities to keep our children moving including sports and games, while supporting their social and emotional wellness. While most of our summers might have been a battle against boredom, summer camps provide fun, engaging and social interactions with kids their age. The summer camps also provide healthy snacks and meals and comfort to parents who know their children are being well taken care of while they are at work.
While parents will have hundreds of summer camp options, there are also other options for summer experiences. The Trust is a primary funder of the Summer Youth Internship Program (SYIP). Designed for rising 10th to 12th graders, SYIP allows students to gain paid, real-world work experience in hundreds of companies, organizations, and government institutions. Student interns interview for their positions, engage in real work projects, and interact with professionals at all levels. And let’s remember the allure of earning money over the summer and learning how to save it.
What sets this year’s SYIP apart is the integration of Florida Work Ready to Work-Soft Skills, an innovative pre-internship course. Through this digital platform, interns will learn essential employability skills such as professionalism, effective communication, teamwork, and critical thinking. It’s not just about getting a foot in the door; it’s about equipping these young minds with the tools they need to thrive in today’s competitive job market. Visit miami.getmyinterns.org for more information as deadlines are approaching fast. If your organization would like to host interns, you will also find information there to register.
Whether diving into the world of internships through SYIP, or delving into sports, creative arts and academic pursuits, there’s something for every young mind to discover and embrace this summer. These experiences enrich their summers and shape their futures, instilling confidence, fostering friendships, and igniting their imaginations that will guide them on their journey to success. Join The Children’s Trust as we embrace the diversity of summer offerings and empower our youth to seize every opportunity for a brighter tomorrow.
