The Partnership is excited to announce the addition of three new components to its Cordova Activities for Kid’s, etc- (CAKe) funded summer programming. In partnership with the Folsom Cordova Unified School District, our agency will launch Growing Together (or Creciendo Juntos), which will include lots of disguised learning time, a twice-weekly parent session, and field trips. These pieces accompany the physical games, craft projects, and camp-like atmosphere that have been a part of CAKe since its inception in 2007.

A game of London Bridge is Falling Down complements our 2010 Around the World theme.

The learning activities are designed by a local educator to reduce summer learning loss. With two and half months of summer spreading in front of elementary school youth like a glimmering yellow brick road, parents and community leaders are confronted with the reality of what experts call “the summer slide” – students losing over two months of math and reading learning due to lack of practice. Practically speaking, this means that in August a student might test at the same math and reading levels they tested at in March, not May when school let out.

Growing Together will be shaped around a bug and garden theme based on six books from popular children’s author Eric Carle and will include guest presentations and field trips to the Sacramento Public Library Rancho Cordova Branch and local gardens and trails to reinforce literacy and science skills. The inclusion of parents during program sessions will increase the likelihood that children will practice skills at home.

Diana Croon-White from our funding superstar, Kaiser, posing with some of our 2010 summer youth!

The 2011 program has one additional feature: a temporary new home. With White Rock Park under renovation this summer, Growing Together will plant itself on the Cordova Villa Elementary School campus.

Growing Together is made possible through grant funding from the City of Rancho Cordova and the Giants Community Fund, a generous donation from Kaiser Permanente, and cash and inkind support from the Folsom Cordova Unified School District. For more information about Growing Together or to donate supplies or field trip funding, please call Jennifer Ellis @ 916.361.8684 ext. 236.