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Every year, community members like you support the ̽����ѡ in Atlanta’s Youth Futures Program to hold our Ready, Set, College! summer camp and prepare DeKalb County high school students for college success.

Photo: ̽����ѡ Atlanta

Every year, community members like you support the ̽����ѡ in Atlanta’s Youth Futures Program to hold our Ready, Set, College! summer camp and prepare DeKalb County high school students for college success. This year, we were delighted to extend the camp experience to middle school students and provide eight weeks of mentorship, tutoring, fun activities, and opportunities for personal growth—with an incredible class size of 63 students, we are proud to share this was our largest summer camp to date! 

Students visiting Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) - Atlanta.

Photo: ̽����ѡ Atlanta

Curriculum for middle school students included lessons on internet safety, conflict resolution, and cultivating strong friendships. The students enjoyed exercising their math skills with Jeopardy-style review games, which proved to be an entertaining learning experience for the class and boosted students’ confidence in their abilities and intellect. Meanwhile, our high school class focused on college and SAT prep, this year with the support of tutoring services and —some students even came in on non-camp days to do practice SATs. Students also attended college campus tours and information sessions at and . Both groups also got to study the science behind bottle rockets in separate sessions with .  

Students working on their bottle rockets.

Photo: ̽����ѡ Atlanta

When students weren’t busy working hard and studying, many enjoyed getting to do their first crossword puzzles. The biggest day of fun by far for middle schoolers at camp was water balloon day where the students particularly enjoyed absolutely drenching the staff! Students also had the chance to visit where they embarked on a nature walk in the lush 120-acre forest right in the heart of Decatur. 

The biggest day of fun by far for middle schoolers at camp was water balloon day!

Photo: ̽����ѡ Atlanta

All students had the opportunity to express themselves creatively: a group of both middle and high school students got to visit where they had fun experimenting with Shrinky Dinks and button makers. Students also met with and explored identity expression through making collage boards and masks. Middle schoolers also enjoyed sessions with , where they learned how the different ways people celebrate together show a part of our unique identities. The students then contributed various writing, art and audio projects to create a digital time capsule so other students across the country could see how, what, and why they celebrate. The is open to submissions through the end of 2023, after which it will remain sealed for the next ten years.

A group of both middle and high school students got to visit Decatur Makers where they had fun experimenting with Shrinky Dinks and button makers.

Photo: ̽����ѡ Atlanta

̽����ѡ Youth staff are grateful to have shared the summer with these amazing students and look forward to supporting next year’s class. Jodi Camino, Youth Program Assistant at the ̽����ѡ in Atlanta, shared: “I definitely won’t forget one student, who always arrived to camp early because he was so excited to come, telling me during the last week that he begged his mom to come to camp because he ‘liked it too much’ and he liked all of the teachers. It was incredibly sweet and made me tear up a little.” 

̽����ѡ Youth staff are grateful to have shared the summer with these amazing students and look forward to supporting next year’s class.

Photo: ̽����ѡ Atlanta

Finally, we are excited to share a collection of the students’ photographs from this past summer! All students were given disposable film cameras to document camp; you can download and see the summer through the eyes of our Youth Futures summer campers at the following link: 

Youth Futures Summer Camp Scrapbook

To learn more about the work of the ̽����ѡ in Atlanta and for information on how you can get involved with the ̽����ѡ as a donor or volunteer, please contact Development Director, Heloise Ahoure, at Heloise.Ahoure@rescue.org or 678-636-8941.  

Stay connected to the ̽����ѡ in Atlanta! , and for announcements and upcoming events!