Blogs

LEAP's Summer Camp is over but it is not too late to help!

You can still support LEAP by donating today!

Supporters like you made it possible for LEAP to have approximately 740 youth in our free summer camp and employ over 180 counselors for the last two months. This summer has been a summer of joy, growth, and enrichment. Our LEAPers engaged in activities that broadened their understanding of themselves and their community. Whether it was day trips to West Haven beach, a tour of the Yale Art Gallery, or hiking West Rock, our LEAPers' experiences helped them learn and grow.

Your support this summer provided New Haven youth with:

• Camping, with tents, overnight stays, and s’mores
• Cooking lessons in the start-of-the-art community kitchen at the Dixwell Q House
• Dancing with New York City-based choreographers
• Gardening at LEAP’s Community Center
• Field trips to local museums and libraries and overnight trips to historic cities 
• Painting, art projects, and handmade puppets
• Swimming lessons with certified swim instructors
• Yoga instruction for even our youngest children
• And reading, reading, and more reading to keep literacy skills at or above grade level!

A counselor and LEAPer play chess at the Hill South site.

Tony, our Kitchen Operations Manager at the Q House, leads a cooking class for LEAPers at the Dixwell site.

The last week of camp was a time to explore places outside of New Haven from the Connecticut Science Center to the Bronx Zoo to Washington D.C. (for our teenagers). These journeys are educational adventures that broaden their horizons, strengthen their summer friendships, and provide experiences they will never forget.

Our Counselor Development program offers college resources to support our counselors in pursuit of higher education. Every spring, we take our Leaders in Training and high school junior counselors on a college tour to see schools that they might not otherwise get to tour in person.

In the summer, we celebrate graduating high school seniors and college seniors to reflect on their achievements and embrace their futures! We held our college graduation ceremony at the Q House where we celebrated 24 graduating high school counselors - 100% of our seniors. We awarded $13,000 in scholarships to 7 recipients to recognize their dedication to LEAP. The scholarships this year included the Stiefel Williams Family Scholarship, the Regina Winters Scholarship, the Jay Bovilsky Scholarship, and the inaugural Annie B. Veale Scholarship. We are so proud of all our amazing counselors and cannot wait to see what the future holds for them!

Scholarship winners.

Top row (left to right):

Tu'prece Kelley (Jay Bovilsky Scholarship), Santos Caro (Stiefel and Williams Family Scholarship), Josh Tomlinson (Regina Winters Scholarship), Damarley Barrett (Annie B. Veale Scholarship).

Bottom row (left to right):

Kania Colon (Stiefel and Williams Family Scholarship), Astou Diallo (Jay Bovilsky Scholarship), Destiny Bennett (Regina Winters Scholarship).

The crowd cheers on their fellow counselors.

Tomi Veale presents the inaugural Annie B. Veale scholarship in honor of her late mother and long-time LEAP receptionist Annie B. Veale. The award recognizes excellence in athletics and service to the community.

Late-summer veggies and fruit are now in season at the CitySeed Farmers Market at Dixwell Q House! The Farmers Market is every Wednesday from 3pm-6pm on the plaza!

SNAP/EBT dollars will be doubled for all produce purchases.

All other cash, credit, and debit purchases will ALSO BE DOUBLED!

Kale from Massaro Community Farms.

Vendor from Je'Taime Cupcakes & Cocktails stands and smiles with family.