While school was out for the summer, Boys Town New England provided a Summer Enrichment Program for approximately 25 at-risk children residing on our Bazarsky Campus in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. The term at-risk youth describes middle- and high-school aged children whose future is at risk, where the likelihood of an adverse outcome is higher than other children unless someone intercedes.
“The Summer Enrichment Program helped our youth as they practiced important social skills, such as following instructions and meeting new people," said Riley Huntington, Family Home Program Director. “We worked with our development department to create a list of activities that would be learning opportunities and first-time experiences for many of our youth."
The program focused on providing an array of educational and recreational activities that appealed to youth, while providing opportunities for teachable moments.
Development Director Glenn Hofmann stated, “Summer camp placements were interspersed with field trips, which was an exciting way to enrich a child's life. We had unforgettable trips to Block Island, a New England Revolution game, and a performance of Blue Man Group, just to name a few. Our goal was to make this our youth's best summer ever."
A trip to Six Flags New England on a spectacular day concluded the summer. “They were still talking about roller coasters a week later," said Tim Croteau, Family Home Program Consultant. “Both the kids and staff had such a memorable time."
We'd like to give a big thank you to our donors who provided funding which allowed our youth to have a summer of bonding with their peers and making lasting memories.