Newburgh Summer 06' Highlights

(Newburgh) - Parents and children in the Greater Newburgh community had the solution to summer boredom at their fingertips, thanks to Summer in the City, produced by the City of Newburgh Department of Children, Youth and Family Services in partnership with the Orange County Youth Bureau. Published in English and Spanish, more than 5,000 copies of the wide-ranging listing of free and fee-based activities were distributed throughout the community, and the document was posted on the City’s web site. Activities included a variety of camps, from sports to academic and the arts, summer reading opportunities, special events, and much more.

Here are some highlights of summer programs supported by the City of Newburgh:

Summer Youth Employment: 46 young people from 14-17 were employed with various City departments during the federally-funded five-week program coordinated by the County Employment and Training Administration.

Summer Food Service Program: The Summer Food Service Program provided nearly 5,000 free lunches to children and youth in need, and was funded by the State Department of Education.

The Youth Voice Project: Youth Voice volunteers served at a local food pantry, assisted with Block Pride, held a rematch with the City of Newburgh Police Department (this time in softball) and a youth conference with Liberty Partnership. In addition, Youth Voice participants have reached out to the Carson Avenue neighborhood to “adopt a street” for a year.

Recreation Department Summer Program: 90 youth participated in the program which focused on literacy, fitness, arts/crafts, family nights and field trips.

Summer Learning Programs: More than 150 young people participated in summer learning programs funded by the 21st Century grant and administered by the Department of Children, Youth and Family Services;

Playground on Wheels: Provided structured play time for children and youth in designated neighborhoods; also provided a way to cool off during the heat emergencies and Project 365, a clean up event on East Parmenter Street coordinated by the National Night Out Planning Committee;

“Activities in Audrey Carey Park”: Neighborhood children enjoyed games and arts and crafts in the park throughout the summer. In collaboration with Education through Adventure, children learned teambuilding and communication skills through fun-filled activities.

National Night Out: The Youth Bureau served as the lead agency for a National Night Out site where 20 organizations provided community information and resources to more than 1,000 participants.