In July 2013 the DeKalb Police Department formed the Youth in Need Task Force to develop strategies to decrease youth delinquency in DeKalb. Several community organizations responded to this call for action and are working in partnership to offer the summer program, Camp Power, to the youth living in the University Village housing complex.
Partners include: City of DeKalb Police Department, Live Healthy DeKalb County, Kishwaukee Family YMCA, New Hope Baptist Church, Northern Illinois University, Kishwaukee Community Hospital, DeKalb Community Gardens, DeKalb County KEYS/Ben Gordon Center, University Village management and the Voluntary Action Center.
This collaborative summer program responds to identified issues of child hunger and elevated youth crimes that occur in the apartment complex during the summer months. The structure of Camp Power includes academic tutoring, a daily healthy lunch and afternoon snack, nutrition education, structured physical activity, mentoring, and the development of community gardens. This program will engage youth in structured recreation activities, teach youth and families multiple ways to utilize the vast array of recreational resources in their immediate neighborhood and assist them in developing healthy food options through education and the community garden.
Any help given is sincerely appreciated!
Volunteer Descriptions (All volunteers must be 16 years or older)
Camp Power Recreation assistance – Active games and structured sports skill building lessons will be offered to children immediately following lunch. Extra assistance is needed to help facilitate these activities and monitor and interact with the children during games. Please note that this is likely to involve moderate to intense physical activity.
Camp Power Field Trip assistance – Wednesday is field trip day! We will be walking to various locations on NIU campus with the children. Extra assistance is needed to monitor the children while walking to and from our field trip destination.
Nutrition Education assistance – Twice a week, NIU dietetic interns will lead nutrition education classes. Assistance is needed to help children prepare various recipes and clean up at the end of the session.
Power Academy tutoring volunteer – This academic program provides school aged children with reading, math and soft skills instruction aimed to assist them in meeting/exceeding the Common Core Standards as well as retention goals for employment in DeKalb County. Volunteers may assist in activities such as reading with children, playing math or literacy games, or assisting a child with a lesson.
Go to the following link to sign up
to volunteer or for questions:
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