Sign Kids Up For Free Summer Learning Experience

DETROIT (WWJ) - The Education Experience at St. Vincent and Sarah Fisher Center is pleased to announce enrollment has opened for the Children's Summer Learning Experience.

The Children's Summer Learning Experience is a summer long learning program, aimed at first, second and third graders.

Due to the fact that children often do not retain information from the previous school year and the Summer Learning program is focused on creating a year-round learning environment.

In addition to helping these children build their reading and math skills, students are provided with experiences that they not have in their typical school classroom.

"Our Summer program has always been a critical factor in ensuring that our young, at-risk students continue to move forward academically, even during summer months," Diane Renaud, Executive Director/CEO, said in a statement. "This year is particularly exciting as we welcome a new sponsor, whose generosity is providing an entirely new level of education and experiences for our kids."

The Marc Suris Legacy Foundation (MSLF) is sponsoring a new element to this year's program - educational field trips - featuring visits to Metro Detroit treasurers, such as the Detroit Science Center, Detroit Institute of Arts, Greenfield Village and the Charles H. Wright African American History Museum.

"Marc Suris believed very deeply in helping children and it means a great deal to our supporters to be able to honor Marc, by providing inner-city youngsters with experiences that will open up their vision of the world," Bruce Clayton, President of MSLF, said in a statement.

"For many of our students, there is simply no financial ability to visit these gems of Detroit and absorb their world-class exhibits. We are grateful to MSLF for opening the doors of curiosity for our kids," concluded Renaud.

A Children's Learning Lab has been added to the program, to ensure students are exposed not only to learning programs, but also to computer skills that they will need in order to stay competitive in life.

To be eligible for the program, students must have completed first, second or third grade during the 2010-2011 school year. While there is no cost for the program, consistent attendance is mandatory.

The program meets weekly on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Transportation to and from the Center (16800 Trinity, Detroit) is not provided.

For more information on the Summer Learning Experience, visit www.svsfcenter.org or call 313-535-9200.