Summer Camps at the Center: The Youth Programs Take a Hike

Learning doesn’t only happen during the school year here at the Center! For the past eight years we have partnered with the YMCA-Camp Jones Gulch to provide a fun and educational camp for middle and high school students. This year a group of eleven kids, ages six to thirteen, attended camp in the Marin Headlands. Therethey took daily hikes, learned to shoot a bow and arrow, canoed on the San Francisco Bay and zip-lined. The week of adventuring gave students an opportunity to have fun with peers while developing the skills that our Programs Manager, Steven Lopez, works on with them weekly throughout the year. For our high school students, we had a summer camp through our Future Links Program. The all-girls backpacking trip, also in partnership with YMCA-Camp Jones Gulch, took thegirls to Lake Tahoe. They began on the shores of Lake Tahoe and hiked into the mountains of the Desolation Wilderness. They visited Emerald Bay, Eagle Falls and Upper Velma Lake, challenging not only their communication skills but also their wilderness and hiking abilities. We can’t wait until next summer!

Students don’t only have fun events during the summer time. The Center also hosts outings to places like Giants games, rock climbing and House of Air. These outings give kids and teens the chance to practice their communication skills in a relaxed and interactive environment. Additionally, it gives parents an opportunity to exchange tips, offer each other support and build community.

Steven, who has been hearing-impaired since birth emphasizes the importance of his role in his student’s lives, “They can look at me and see someone who goes through the same struggles as them and understands their frustrations. Who better than your peers to give you the tools to succeed?”

Our summer camps, and family outings for children and youth are supported in part by the San Francisco Department of Children, Youth and Their Families (DCYF). Thank you to DCYF for your continued support!