Quick Fact: Summer represents an opportunity for experiences that enrich and complement the school year and promote learning and development. It is well-documented, however, that during the summer, low-income and other disadvantaged youth fall further behind academically than their more advantaged peers—in part, due to a lack of enriching opportunities (Heyns, 1978; Alexander, Entwisle, & Olson, 2001; Burkam, Ready, Lee, & LoGerfo, 2004; Downey, von Hippel, & Broh, 2004). |
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New Heights Summer Academy 2008
BCF was proud to
support New Heights Summer Academy in the summer of 2008. This program offered a full day academic and athletic experience for 100 boys and girls in seventh and eighth grade. This program was five days per week for eight hours per day and featured a 50:50 classroom to court ratio. The morning was filled with academic content and the afternoon was dedicated to a developmental basketball camp.
The primary goals of New Heights Summer Academy was to:
- Reduce summer learning loss in reading, writing and math for all students;
- Improve these fundamental skills in those students requiring additional support;
- Offer new experiences including trips and immersion in preparatory school campuses; and
- Advance the athletic development and healthy lifestyles of our student-athletes.
Quick Fact: Data shows that disadvantaged youth participate at higher rates than more advantaged youth in tutoring programs. This finding may indicate that the academic deficits of disadvantaged youth are limiting their ability to participate in other types of enrichment activities and programs (Harvard Family Research Project, March 2006). For this reason, the academic programming of the Summer Academy is especially important. |
The academic programming of New Heights Summer Academy focused on communications and math skill development with a particular focus on essay writing, quantitative problem solving, and increasing students' interest in reading. Participants engaged in learning in small groups as they researched and studied the game of basketball through four unique lenses - players, ownership, coaching and governance, and media and marketing. Assigned reading involved news stories, magazine articles and other contemporary publications as well as assignments with practical applications, including the interpretation of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse Guidelines. Students also were expected to read at least one book during the four week period, which they selected during a lesson on the e-commerce process where they learned how to make a safe online purchase. Additionally, the program content included a social/emotional development section highlighted by a peer discussion series used vignettes from favorite films and television shows to explore issues of race, civil rights and social norms.
Summer Academy participants were grouped into gender specific teams that remained together throughout the summer. The staffing structure included an Academy Director, Academic Coordinator, Athletic Coordinator, teachers, college-age alumni and part-time basketball coaches. Each team was paired with at least one high school age peer leader and team "captain". Training was offered to all staff prior to the program and included orientation on age-appropriate youth development principles, classroom set up and management, and first aid and safety as well as training and materials to support the delivery of the program content.
2009 Initiatives
BCF is excited to announce that in addition to supporting this same Student-Athlete Summer Academy in 2009, we will be expanding our reach and supporting other well-run programs that truly emphasize BCF's values and goals. These organized programs will encourage deserving young boys and girls to succeed through their involvement in athletic and academic after-school programs.
Please click here to support BCF's initiatives!
Quick Fact: Studies show a continuing need to target non-school resources to the most disadvantaged youth (Harvard Family Research Project, 2006). |
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