Horizon’s summer youth program expands

Horizon’s Salisbury youth program has been providing low income families with a 6 week summer learning experience for the past 13 years. Just recently community funding and grants have allowed for this program to expand their classroom locations to Salisbury University allowing for 24 new incoming kindergartners and third graders.

47 ABC was able to visit SU’s campus and talk to Horizon organization leaders about the progress.

“We start with children that are leaving kindergarten going into first grade and we continue horizons continues that journey all the way through graduation all the way through 12th grade” said Horizon’s new director, Yvonne Terry.

Terry tells 47 ABC, while the 6 week summer program is a ton of fun, the goal is to help students retain information they’ve learned in the school year throughout their summer break.

“Horizon calls it the summer slide.” said Terry. “Because when you don’t use it you lose it and many times during the summer if the kids aren’t learning they have the tendency to fall behind.”

The Horizon’s summer program is available for students in Wicomico county at no cost to parents. Terry suggests if your child is falling behind in school to inquire about the program with the child’s teacher. The program does offer math, science, and reading curriculum as well as a daily swim class for all the kids.

“I love math because I like solving problems but my favorite thing to do is swim,” said Horizon student, Gabrielle Artis who also told 47 ABC that she’s excited to come back next summer.

When students leave the summer program, Horizon stays involved. With the help of Wicomico County’s Board of Education they are allowed to keep up with the students throughout the school year by checking their report cards and their learning levels. Horizon’s is a non profit organization so donor and community support is always welcomed.

For more information on the program, click here.