ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY)- The Elmira City School District announced a new initiative in collaboration with local organizations. They are offering free summer camp programs for kids. Organizations like First Tee Corning, Williams Toyota, and other local youth agencies have partnered with the school district to offer some unique summer programs. 


The school district's 2021 Summer Programming offers PE activities, reading outdoors, and even a weekly Olympic theme activity. The Director of Educational Services tells me they received federal funding along with grants and are providing fun activities and learning opportunities for students.

ECSD explains summer is an extension of the school year. It's a time to provide academic and social programs to their students in the greatest need. They are offering free transportation for nearly all of their programs. They also provide two free meals a day.
 

"For Summer Boost we are also feeding students both in the morning and at lunchtime, so another great opportunity that's for our young kids,” Jay Hillman said.
 

The Summer Boost program is for K through 6th grade. Their program Summer of Innovation is for 4th through 7th grade. Many of the programs are a collaboration with several organizations across the Southern Tier to offer science, technology engineering, and math skills to students.

"Which is through our community providers so Wings of Eagles, First Tee and a number of other opportunities for kids to sign up and the district is paying for kids,” Hillman said.
 

They also have programs for older kids. The ACE program courses through Corning Community College, the Robotic Olympics camp and a golf camp. 
 

"We have kids that will be participating in some credit recovery and your typical summer school. So between First Tee and Wings of Eagles, we are sponsoring kids to go, we are asking kids to go to those websites and check out what they have to offer.

Hillman says they are trying to support kids and families by making up for last summer. They want to get kids engaged with school and having them engage again with friends and peers. 

The program is for all kids Hillman explains. They have support for kids who have special needs also.

"We have some kids that have some hearing needs we also have the opportunity to have an interpreter for them. For someone that is hearing impaired that's an integral part of what they do so we are going to make sure that we have the opportunity for those kids to participate fully," Hillman said.


Parents don't have to come out of pocket for any of these summer programs.

"It won't cost parents anything, all they need to do is sign their kids up,” Hillman said.

Some programs start on July 6th and the majority begin on July 12th. The program hours and duration vary and are specific. They can run from a month to a month and a half.

You can sign up for ECSD 2021 Summer Programs and First Tee Corning Programs offer summer fun with science, technology, engineering, arts, health, and math opportunities at their Indoor Golf & Sports Training Center at the Arnot Mall:

  • Hosting the Science & Discovery Center for 5 weeks of camps. 
  • Collaborating with the Elmira City School District to offer 2 weeks of Robot Olympics Camp for 6th – 9th graders. 
  • Hosting 2 one-day STEAHM experiences for youth and community centers in Chemung and Steuben.