CHARACTERISTICS OF EFFECTIVE SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAMS:

Approach to Learning

Program Infrastructure

Project Morry received the 2007 'Excellence in Summer Learning Award' from the National Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University.

All campers participate in E-CLUB (Education Club). Boys and girls work in small groups on an educational project that requires developing their reading, writing, speaking and thinking skills. At the Education Club Expo, campers display and share their scientific, historical and literary projects. The EDUCATIONAL CLUBHOUSE, part library and part reading room, is a popular place where campers relax, read a book, write in their journals, work on computer skills or receive one-on-one assistance from the Educational Team.

MISSION IS POSSIBLE, a literacy and writing-based curriculum, examines the mission of Project Morry as it relates to campers’ day-to-day lives. Boys and girls reflect on how they feel about themselves, find out who supports Project Morry, learn how communication takes place and discover how children can support others.

FROSH FOCUS is a creative writing curriculum for first-year campers. Nine year olds participate in small groups and “workshop” a piece of original writing.

SUMMER OLYMPICS is an educational weekly, camp-wide competition in which sportsmanship is the highest honor. Teams represent different countries and compete in math, science and cooperative challenges. Events are facilitated by the older campers and reviewed by an Olympic Committee. Boys and girls seize this moment to shine as leaders, while community and team relationships are built between staff members and campers of all ages.

In HIGH SCHOOL 101, campers identify their personal interests and post high school goals. A portfolio is created that campers, parents, teachers and guidance counselors can use to select appropriate high school courses leading to either college admissions or a productive career path. Many of these young people also work on their summer reading lists and educational preparation for the school year.

LEAD (Leadership, Exploration, Awareness, Development) is the two-week summer travel component of the Post Grad Program. Teens travel through the Mid-Atlantic States and discover a variety of educational opportunities, historical sites, museums, parks, cultural performances, farms and other diverse ecosystems. They also visit colleges and universities. Throughout school year meetings, experiential activities prepare students to embrace these new life experiences with flexibility, an open mind and enhanced communication skills.

The SOCIAL ACTION PROGRAM is an educational forum where campers identify and analyze disparities and discrimination in the world around them. Teens meet to discuss and explore inequalities and systems of oppression through group discussion, storytelling, historical analysis, films, workshops and creative writing. Their own power to be agents of positive social change is examined and critiqued.

“Social Action as Democracy”
from Democracy & Education, March 2007
Voices of Our Young People

“I want to see a world where there are no drugs, no pains, people voting, people making change in the world because they want to and not because they are told to.”

“Social Action is a positive way to get real-life experiences and problems to be shared in an open and safe environment. People realized something that they didn’t realize before and that’s called real learning.”

“Life was hard growing up from a trailer to a room in my grandmother’s house, then to an apartment that I could now call my home. But don’t get me wrong, I love my life and I’m proud of it. I am the girl standing here telling you my story.”

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