Mission and Goals

Mission

The mission of the Summer Fund is to ensure that underserved children and youth in the Metropolitan Boston area have access to a wide variety of affordable, high-quality camp-based recreational and learning opportunities, by providing resources for operational support, capacity building and professional development.

Goals

The Summer Fund dedicates its resources, effort, and time to achieving the following:

  • Growing a collaborative pool of funding to support summer camp and programs serving urban, underserved children and youth;
  • Increasing the number of summer program slots that are accessible to urban, underserved children, youth, and families;
  • Increasing summer camp and program quality by providing operational support, capacity building and professional development AND conducting ongoing assessments of quality standards;
  • Building a strategic portfolio of camps that provide high-quality recreational, academic support, and experiential learning opportunities

Summer Fund Fact

As part of the Summer Fund, in 2017 the Homeless Campership Fund supported 25 camp and shelter partners enabling families in homeless shelters and those facing housing insecurities free access for over 1300 summer camp slots for this at-risk youth population.

Our Impact

When I was thirteen, MetroLacrosse changed me by giving me the opportunity to learn how to be a leader on and off the lacrosse field. I have learned how to solve problems both individually and cooperatively (like communicating in ways other than just using my voice), how to respect and learn from the people around me including my peers and mentors, how to play on a team of players who are my opponents during the season, and maybe most importantly for me, how to allow other’s voices to be heard.

— Victoria D’Elia, former camper MetroLacrosse Teen Summer Programs

Random Quote

The Summer Fund provides 60% of the total number of groups we serve for our summer programs, which yields 35% of our total participants and 40% of our participant fees. The impact of the Summer Fund on YES’s Outdoor Adventure Program is substantial. It provides the opportunity for more than 250 participants to receive introductory, one-day outdoor experiential education excursions, which we hope will leave them yearning to come back for more.

— Youth Enrichment Services (YES)