Free summer camp offered in Chattanooga for disadvantaged children

In this file photo, Mynautica McKibben, Baylor students Amalie Beard and Max Ferguson, and Kentrel Green, from left, read together during a tutoring session at the Carver Youth and Family Development Center on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
In this file photo, Mynautica McKibben, Baylor students Amalie Beard and Max Ferguson, and Kentrel Green, from left, read together during a tutoring session at the Carver Youth and Family Development Center on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

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For more information on Chattanooga Youth and Family Development summer camps: Phone: (423) 643-6400 Website: http://www.chattanooga.gov/youthandfamily/recreation/youth-camp

Children who receive lunches for free or at reduced cost at Hamilton County Schools can go to Chattanooga Youth and Family Development summer camps for free.

The department's mission is to provide educational, recreational, developmental and social service opportunities to "create smarter students and stronger families."

Last year, the eight-week camps cost $300 per child, or $250 for early registration, with scholarships available to low-income applicants.

In a recent meeting, Greta Hayes, Chattanooga Parks and Recreation's director of recreation, explained the fee changes to the Chattanooga City Council.

Those tweaks include resetting enrollment to $240 for students who do not receive free or reduced lunches or do not attend one of the county's five schools targeted for improvement by the state: Brainerd High, Dalewood Middle, Orchard Knob Elementary, Orchard Knob Middle and Woodmore Elementary.

Councilman Anthony Byrd asked if a certain percentage of free summer camp enrollments could be reserved for disadvantaged children.

"So many kids at the YFD centers can't get into the camps because it just gets filled up super quick," Byrd said.

While summer camps sign-ups are on a first-come, first-serve basis, the department has only received $2,400 for summer camp enrollments so far, Hayes said. Most of those had enrolled at the John A. Patten center in Lookout Valley.

"So, we are definitely serving the participants we want to serve," Hayes said.

Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod asked how the Youth and Family centers ensured applicants qualified for free summer camp enrollments.

Hayes said it mostly came down to checking whether the child attended one of the two dozen Hamilton County schools that provide free lunches to all their students. If at least 40 percent of a school's enrolled students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, all the students receive free lunches. Otherwise, they ask for school lunch documents, she said.

Coonrod asked if parents needed to provide a report card or other record to prove what schools their children attend.

Camp registrars do not ask for proof of school enrollment, but could adopt such a policy if the council wishes, Hayes said.

Coonrod, chairwoman of the council's Youth and Family Development Committee, also urged audience members to spread the word about department's leadership and mentoring programs, passing out several postcards highlighting Chattanooga Ambassadors Program, Chattanooga Youth Council and My Brother's Keeper.

"A lot of people in the community feel as if they don't get the necessary information pertaining to different programs that's inside the Youth and Family Development centers," Coonrod said. "I'm asking you to make sure you give it to your neighbors or people who didn't even realize we had these programs available - leadership programs for teens and young adults."

Coonrod asked people to reach out to "that kid" who has been left by the wayside.

"I remember when I was that kid and it took a community to kind of get me together," she said. "So that's what we've got to do. We've got to start getting them together and make sure we're giving them the tools and the resources to be successful."

Contact staff writer Paul Leach at 423-757-6481 or pleach@times freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @pleach_tfp.

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