Provide Kids with Cultural Experiences

In 2003, over 10,000 youth went to the zoo, boarded the USS Constitution, participated in a dance workshop, visited a museum, and/or experienced live theater, through Summer Fund's Cultural Initiative.

The Cultural Day program will provide Summer Fund grantees with the opportunity to visit and utilize the services of Boston area cultural institutions free of charge. Depending on the funds dedicated to the Cultural Initiative each camp will be allocated a maximum waiver limit. Each program will then individually contract with the cultural institution/s to arrange a visit/s, whose total cost is equal to or under the waiver limit. The Summer Fund Cultural Day program has become an invaluable resource for summer camps. In many cases, trips subsidized through this program are the only opportunities youth will have to explore and benefit from the rich experiences offered by the city’s diverse collection of cultural and historic resources.

We have always known that camps have come to rely on the Cultural Initiative for their field trips. During site visits camps were asked how a decrease in support from the Cultural Initiative would affect them. More than half of the camps that go on field trips stated that at least 75% of the cultural experiences they offer come from the Cultural Initiative and trips would either be severely cut back or eliminated all together. Camps with limited or non-air conditioned spaces use field trips as a major component of their program.