Camp

Rainbow Child Development Center’s summer camp offers fun and several challenging
activities to children while providing opportunities to learn new skills and remain
healthy. Studies have reported that low income children gain weight two to three
times as fast during the summer as they do during the school year, which is in part
attributed to limited physical movement and an absence of free nutritional meals.

However, children thrive in Rainbow’s non-threatening, open air summer camp!
Rainbow provides children outdoor learning experiences with hands-on activities
that foster respect, independence, and positive self-esteem. Daily activities include:
swimming, team sports, hiking, field trips, fishing, dance, art, gardening, science
and a vibrant literacy program. Studies show that at-risk children who attend summer
camp with a strong literacy component return to school with gains in their reading
levels. In fact, youth from low-income families lose two months of learning, or
22 percent of the school year, during their summer break. Educational research
states that summer learning loss is one of the most significant causes of a
student’s underachievement.

Rainbow has participated in Worcester’s Summer Literacy Initiative since its onset
in 2010. This on-site program infuses literacy in meaningful, engaging instructional
activities to low income children in order to avoid summer learning loss. The program,
led by a reading coach, develops curriculum to build skills across literacy competencies.
The reading coach collaborates with Rainbow’s summer staff to facilitate and instill
literacy throughout the program. Children’s reading levels were measured pre and
post summer camp via standardized assessment tools.
Yearly results have been positive. They have reflected that children’s reading retention
has remained constant or increased. Rainbow is pleased to report that the only
“summer slide” children experience is on the playground!

RCDC Summer Day Camp

Children will attend camp following the close of Worcester Public Schools through August. Camp hours are, 7:30 AM – 5:30 p.m. and transportation is provided.

Daily Activities Include: Swimming, athletic fields, a basketball court, hiking, fishing, gardening, visit farm animals, dance, art, literacy, team work, group work, nature, science, and Learning for Life Curriculum (Respect, Responsibility, Honesty/Trust, Caring, Perseverance, Self-Discipline and Courage all relevant to real life experiences).

Field trips: Canobie Lake Park, Natural Science Exhibits, Old Sturbridge Village, Zoo’s, etc.

Staff: Program Administrators, Camp Counselors, Lifeguards,