By Matthew Piechalak | [email protected]
I n typical fashion, time flew by because we were all having so much fun! The 62nd Summer at Parker has come and gone. What’s left is the plethora of memories created and the tremendous growth of the program. More than 700 students living in 96 different zip codes attended camp this summer. With the help of more than 100 faculty and staff, the kids took part in more than 80 courses including Lancers on Broadway, Sew Great!, Into Nature!, Science in Action, 3D Art and Ceramics, the annual Jazz 88.3 Summer Jazz Workshops, Engineering 100 with Battle Bots, and Camp Parker, to name a small selection.
“We were grateful for the opportunity to continue providing quality programming this summer to students within the San Diego area and beyond,” says Head of Integrative Programs Erika Assadi. “Our commitment to health and safety remained at the forefront of our efforts as we continued to navigate through the changes of the pandemic. We thank the families, students, and faculty/staff members who participated and supported the program.”
This summer, Parker partnered with more than 15 schools in San Diego to provide scholarships and tuition-free programming. Additionally, the School launched Horizons at Francis Parker School. Horizons National is a “community-centered program proven to close the opportunity and achievement gaps for students in under-resourced communities.” With more than 60 national sites, this summer, Parker became the first school in southern California to launch a Horizons program due to the efforts of an Exploratory Group comprised of Parker leadership, board members, community members, and faculty.
“As students face up to a year’s worth of learning loss and widening gaps of opportunity due to the pandemic, Horizons in partnership with Parker is committed to being part of the solution,” Erika explains. “This summer, we partnered with Nye Elementary in the San Diego Unified School District for Horizons at Francis Parker School’s soft launch and welcomed 15 rising first-grade students.”
“We look forward to continuing and growing the program while supporting the deserving students and their families each summer and throughout the academic year,” Erika adds.
Additionally, Summer at Parker gained American Camp Association (ACA) accreditation this summer.
Through the ACA Accreditation process, Summer at Parker was reviewed thoroughly on its operation—from staff qualifications, programming, and training to emergency management. American Camp Association collaborates with experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Red Cross, and other youth-serving agencies to assure that current practices at the camp reflect the most up-to-date, research-based standards in operation.
“We are thrilled to have received accreditation for Summer at Parker from the American Camp Association, a community of camp professionals who, for more than 100 years, have joined together to share knowledge and experience and to ensure the quality of camp programs,” Erika says.
Check out some of our favorite memories from Summer at Parker.
