TYWLS Enrichment Fairs: Connecting Families with Summer Opportunities

Imagine a summer arts camp for middle schoolers or guitar lessons with a showcase performance. How about living and learning on a college campus while still in high school? Planning for summer enrichment opportunities starts well before the end of the school year! Cathlean Wheeler, Manager of Partnerships, Girls’+ Education, anticipated TYWLS families’ needs within our network and organized enrichment fairs to connect students and caregivers with a variety of program partners. Programs were chosen that support the four core areas of our Young Women’s Leadership model: Leadership, Early College & Career Awareness, Health & Wellness, and STEM.

“We wanted to provide a variety of times, locations, and options for our students, because we know it can be overwhelming trying to find free and low-cost programs after the school year is done,” said Cathlean. She compiled all opportunities in an enrichment magazine and shared tips for attendees, especially for students participating in a summer program for the first time.

3 Tips for Assessing Summer Enrichment Opportunities

Visit tables of programs you’ve never heard of first. Save the ones you know you are interested in for the end.

When you start with something unfamiliar, you can get a fresh perspective while you are most alert and engaged. Science experiments in a botanical garden or park? Dance or music lessons in a studio? Discovering new opportunities can plant the seeds for future exploration, even if you don’t participate this year. You’ll still have time to sign up for the ones you already know.

Explore beyond your neighborhood.

While programs located near your home are usually easier to travel to, sites located in other boroughs might have programs of interest that aren’t available closer to home. Creating a travel plan with family or friends may be one way to access programs safely and expand your geographic horizons. Also, ask the program representative if they can assist with transportation arrangements!

Ask about scholarships or fee assistance.

While our network tries to curate free or low-cost programs, some partners may still have fees that create a financial burden on families. It’s normal to ask program representatives whether they offer sliding-scale fees (rates adjusted based on a family’s ability to pay) or financial aid to cover costs. TYWLS students can also check the Summer Enrichment magazine for scholarship applications and stipends offered by our network!

Thank you to the 27 programs that attended our enrichment fairs! We can’t wait to see which opportunities our students engage in this summer.