Literacy Summer Day Camp

It's hard to believe that children would be excited about a month of school in the summer-not for students in the Leacock summer literacy camps!

The Stephen Leacock Foundation for Children assists at-risk students within disadvantaged neighbourhoods in the city of Toronto by giving them a head start for the school year. Students are selected by their teachers as being the most in need of support in reading, writing and oral literacy to support their success in the classroom.

A typical week at camp includes a morning program focused on academic literacy. The students are in very small classes with a low student to teacher ratio (10:1) so that learning can target individual needs and strategies they can take with them to the classroom in the fall. The afternoon programs include recreational activities (swimming is a favourite!) and experiential literacy opportunities such as field trips, guest workshops and outdoor education experiences round out the days. There is a wonderful combination of fun and success both inside the classroom and out. The children would not dare miss a day!

It is well documented that most students experience a summer slide back during the 10 weeks of holiday time. Our aim is to eliminate this regression, boost the children's confidence and self-esteem through successful skill building and support children to be motivated and excited to return to school in the fall.