Horizons Summer Camp Brings Education and Fun to Local Students

Smiles and laughter filled the hot summer air at the for the past 6 weeks.

For over 15 years, students from Red Bank and Long Branch have come to the Rumson Country Day School to be a part of the Horizons Program, which is a six-week academic, cultural and recreational enrichment program offered during the summers.

The program is offered to students from a diverse, low-income population in grades K-8. Carolyn Weaver is the Executive Director of the Horizons Program at the Rumson Country Day School and says it is a good opportunity for students to stay on track during the summer.

“Either their parents don’t have the money or the resources to help their children continue to grow over the summers. We can keep them on pace with their peers academically and socially rather then have them fall behind,” said Weaver.

The theme for this year’s curriculum was “Healthy World, Healthy You”. Weaver says this focus helped students learn how to take care of themselves and take care of the environment through education, art and a variety of enrichment programs.

Starting in the end of June, students are picked up by bus at the Count Basie Fields at 8:15 in the morning. They are offered breakfast when they arrive and lunch halfway through the day. “We want to replace what they would have in school,” said Weaver. Throughout the day the students are participate in 2-and-a-half hours of academics including Math, Reading, Writing and Science taught by certified teachers. The rest of the day is filled with enrichment programs including art, gym, swimming and confidence building exercises.

Julissa Fraiser was a student in the first kindergarden class at the camp. Since then has graduated college is now the 4th grade teacher for this summer. "It is very special to be able to work here knowing how much fun I had as a student and what a difference it made in my life," she said. 

In addition to the professional teaching staff, the Horizons program is staffed with volunteers of all ages. Majority of the volunteers are from local high schools or those who have participated in the program in prior years. The local community also takes an active role in the program. 6 families volunteer their pools for swimming lessons for the students. Rumson Country Day School offers their facility free of charge to the program as well. 

In addition to facilities and time donated from local community members, the program is privately funded through donations from individuals and the national organization and fund raising. Click to read about Hoops for Horizons, the organization's fundraiser which according to Weaver brought in over $30,000 this year.

Click through the slideshow above to learn more about the Horizons program at the Rumson Country Day School.