Summer is all about getting kids active outside at GCC

By GCC youth staff

Each summer, Goodman Community Center’s staff take an intentional approach to summer programming by creating activities and outdoor adventures that merge learning with fun — and where kids have the opportunity to just be kids.

From STEM activities to arts and crafts, practical gardening and kitchen skills to employment opportunities for teens, Goodman’s summer camps and programs provide children and young people of all ages a great summer experience.

Childcare youth immerse in nature

Staff from Goodman’s childcare programs have long prided themselves on creating a place where neighborhood youth are able to build meaningful relationships with trusted adults in a safe and welcoming environment, while also receiving academic help and guidance. Those ideals extend not only to the school year, but are also a main focus of the amazing summer programming that GCC provides.

The only difference is the learning environment shifts from classrooms to the outdoors. Each classroom teacher finds a way to take the children’s desire to be outside and incorporates a unique learning experience.

One example of how each classroom gets outside is by utilizing the path right next door to view nature. The youngest kids (age 3-5) go on nature hikes and try to notice specific things they wouldn’t find indoors. They find flowers, leaves, plants and sticks, and talk about what exciting things they saw on the walk. Older kids take it to the next level and try to explain the differences in the things they are seeing. Why does this dirt look different from this soil? Let’s find out!

They’ll bring dirt samples back from different areas along the path and look at them under a microscope to find the differences. Each age group does something specific to their individual understanding to take advantage of the resources all around them.

The program also strives to provide experiences and opportunities to the children that they would not otherwise be able to do. For instance, swimming lessons are provided for all elementary children. They then use those newfound skills to go to swimming pools and even a waterpark in Wisconsin Dells!

Each age group will take a trip to the Henry Vilas Zoo to see the amazing animals and creatures they don’t see in their everyday lives. Then back in the classroom, they talk about them and learn more about what makes each of those animals so unique. By blending learning, fun and new experiences, the teachers instill a desire for the kids to get outside and explore the world around them.

Sixth graders getting Gardenfit

In the summer of 2010, Goodman Community Center, Rooted and Sarah Jacquart, a University of Wisconsin-Madison doctoral research student in nutritional science, came together to collaborate on a program to see if youth who grow their own food and become more engaged in the process would eat healthier. To make a long story short — the answer is yes. This was the start of Gardenfit, which is celebrating 16 years this summer.

Gardenfit is a program for youth entering sixth grade. Two days a week, staff and youth work on a local farm provided by Rooted. Also, once a week we go to Brittingham Boats for kayaking and once a week we find city parks to have free play.

The program has adjusted from a more research-based program to reimagining living and working on a farm, and cooking fresh food daily. Also, doing things like making forts and fairy villages out of twigs or playing in sprinklers. Snacks could be raspberries and carrots. Art is made from dyed beets, red cabbage and flower petals. Cooking is the incentive and passion of the youth involved in the program.

High schoolers introduced to a variety of experiences

GCC’s TEENworks is getting the high school youth outside this summer by introducing them to different outdoor experiences, like strawberry picking, canoeing and kayaking, biking, gardening and even taking a pontoon boat trip out on the Madison lakes. There’s also a field trip to Devils Lake where we can hike, fish or just explore in nature.

High school staff focus on giving youth ample opportunities to experience different workplaces and career paths, and these outdoor experiences open the doors to options that the youth are not able to experience otherwise.

It can be challenging to get the teens to be excited about being outdoors during hot Wisconsin summers, but one way we motivate the youth is by also giving them opportunities to do the fun things they enjoy outside, not just focus on the work aspect of being outdoors. There are opportunities to hang out at parks or organize various tournaments amongst the youth in kickball or basketball to give them something to look forward to besides the hard work.