Community Family Life Services

It has been a summer of exuberance, inspiration and pure joy for the 30 youth participating in the CFLS Summer Camp 2009. This year's program served students from 3 DC public schools as well as youth in CFLS' own Trinity Arms program. The annual Summer Camp is a critical component of CFLS' Youth, Education and Advocacy program and provides yet another opportunity to help youth improve negative self-images and build self esteem. According to Youth Program Manager, Keon Drake, "the CFLS summer program was carefully designed to provide all students with meaningful enrichment opportunities while encouraging them to imagine and reach for the possibilities. "

Campers have been participating in a rich, fun-filled educational and creative program: swimming, ice-skating, and bowling. Students also have the opportunity to explore their talent through weekly tennis, golf and dance lessons (a first for most). The youth have been enthusiastic and fully engaged in all the activities impressing instructors and partners alike. CFLS campers earned the coveted Stars of the Week title their first week at Fort Dupont Ice Arena. The students were especially excited about learning golf and won the heart of golf instructor , Coach Robbie of First Tee of Washington, "I really enjoyed teaching the group, they were very quick learners and I would love to work with them again."

In addition to the many outdoor and sporting activities campers participated in art & music workshops, book clubs, visited museums and cultural events. Campers also received instructions in financial literacy courtesy of TD Bank. Bank representatives gave fun but important lessons in money and the value of saving. As part of the workshop TD Bank will provide each participant with a $20.00 savings account.

Many of the students have expressed how happy they are at summer camp. A 10-year-old camper said as she listed all the activities she participated in, "You know, I thought summer camp was going to be boring, but it is so much fun and I love all the new things I am learning."

Program Manager Keon Drake says, "It is exciting to work with the youth and very rewarding to watch them grow and develop self-confidence as they participate in sporting and other activities and learn from new experiences."

We would like to extend a special thank you to DC CYITC, District of Columbia Public Schools; East Potomac Clubhouse; Set Point Tennis Inc.; Jimmy and Lana Garvin of Langston Golf Course; First Tee of Washington, DC; and TD Bank.

We would also like to express our thanks to the many other foundations, corporations, individuals, faith-based organizations, volunteers, interns and staff who made the CFLS 2009 Summer Camp possible.

Thank you for your generous support!

Designate # 60759 United Way / CFC of the National Capital Area

This has been an exciting summer for youth enrolled in Community Family Life Services Summer Camp program. youth participated in our experiential skill summer camp engineered around positive youth development best practices that enable youth ages 5-14 to:

· Feel physically and emotionally safe

· Experience belonging and ownership

· Develop self-worth

· Discover self

· Develop quality relationships with peers and adults

· Discuss conflicting values and form their own

· Feel pride in the accountability that comes with mastery

· Expand their capacity to enjoy life and know that success is possible

We partnered with the best recreational, arts and cultural organizations in the District of Columbia to provide an exhilarating summer experience for our youth. The response from youth, parents and community leaders has been overwhelmingly positive. According to CFLS Youth, Education and Advocacy Program Manager, Keon Drake, "Parents were elated that their children were participating in a program that provided fun, structure and exposure to new educational activities." I visited the summer camp where representatives from TD Bank engaged youth in a process of setting up bank accounts. The math skills of the youth were readily apparent as they added deposits and made withdrawals from simulated bank accounts.

We have received numerous letters from the community acknowledging the contributions the Community Family Life Summer Camp Program has made to the lives of children in the community. Our intention is that next year we will be able to grow and to serve even more youth in our dynamic youth program.

My sincere appreciation goes out to all of the supporters and funders of the youth program and to the summer program staff, especially the Youth Program Manager, Keon Drake, interns and volunteers who have made this program an overwhelming success.

In service and support,

Claudia Thorne

Executive Director

Children in the Family-to-Family Program get ready to bowl at Bowl America in Alexandria