According to a 2009 Healthy Kids Colorado survey, surveyed youth ranked substance use, depression and suicide as three risks they face. During the school year teachers, school counselors, and parents try to thwart these issues with positive after-school activities. In the summer, many parents turn to Christian youth organizations to continue their effort in providing safe and encouraging activities for their child.
Function
Several Christian organizations serve the youth all throughout the year by offering: mid-week Bible classes, holiday parties, weekend extravaganzas, and monthly peer-meetings. During the summer, these same organizations will offer parents the opportunity to enroll their youth in a program that generally lasts anywhere from one week to an entire summer duration. The programs are designed to continue educational learning while offering a foundation of Christian principles.
An interested child would have to be between the ages of 5 to 18 to participate.
Benefits
Allowing your child to participate in a Christian summer activity will give him the chance to meet other kids who are finding positive ways to deal with social challenges. In these summer programs instructors and peer-mentors regularly discuss the importance of refraining from drug substances, violent associations, and sexual promiscuity. The organizations also work with the youth on academic levels, connecting them with tutors who give them one-on-one help in understanding difficult subjects.
Activity Locations
Christian Youth Theater Denver is a theater arts education program for children ages 6 to 18. The theater company puts on publicized productions with themes that range from Disney to Broadway. During the summer there are three locations: Highlands Ranch, Parker and SW Littleton. Participants must audition and pay an enrollment fee. Although this summer activity is not directly associated with a single denomination, the founders believe in developing Godly role models who practice Christian morals.
YMCA of Metropolitan Denver offers 17 branch locations for the youth. The mission of the YMCA is to put Christian principles into programs that develop the mind and body. The Y offers summer day camp for kids ages 5 to 12. For working parents this is an affordable and convenient option that allows a child to have adult supervision in a learning environment between the hours of 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Several churches feature summer activities. Calvary South Denver Church, Denver Baptist Church, and Faith United Evangelical Lutheran Church are a few of the many churches that offer Vacation Bible School programs every year. Vacation Bible Schoo offers physical activities, crafts and Bible based lessons to children ages 5 to 18. These events generally last Monday through Friday and are founded on Bible verse theme.
Cost
For summer activities that specialize in an area of interest such as theater or art, the cost is around $160 for a 10-week enrollment. Church-sponsored activities may be free or cost up to $35 a week.
Considerations
Although Christian summer youth activities are open to everyone and welcome young children and teens from various walks of life, it is a good idea to find out about the demographics of an organization before enrolling your child. Find out how many previously enrolled participants were of the same age group of your child and know in advance how much parental involvement is required. Remember, Christian youth activities prepare their participants for some type of event that is geared to entertain and involve the entire family, such as a musical or sports tournament.
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