COMPASS / SONYC / LEAPS Afterschool & Summer Programs
The Friends of Crown Heights Educational Centers, Inc., (FOCH) is a leading provider of high-quality Afterschool programs serving hundreds of school-age children (5- 13 years old) in both School- and Center-based settings. Under contract with the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), FOCH currently operates four Elementary (COMPASS) and Middle School (SONYC) Afterschool programs serving a combined population of 496 students. Of these, 402 are Elementary students (5-12 years old), and 94 are Middle School students (12-13 years old). At the Elementary level, these programs provide students with homework assistance and structured recreational and enrichment activity; at the Middle School level, they function as a pathway to success by offering participants a choice in how they spend their time, and providing them with opportunities to explore and develop their interests in sports, art, civic leadership and community service.
Under contract with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), FOCH also serves an additional 320 Elementary students under the New York State Learning and Enrichment Afterschool Program Supports (LEAPS) initiative. Utilizing a Positive Youth Development (PYD) approach, our LEAPS Afterschool programs are all hosted in a school-based setting. The programs provide students with academic support and enrichment activities, prioritize their social-emotional wellness, facilitate mentorship, employment and life-skills training for participants and expand their opportunities for meaningful and constructive community engagement. All of our FOCH Afterschool curricula incorporate the STEAM concept, under which participants engage in activities that promote their understanding and appreciation of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math. Among the activities offered are robotics, creative writing, music (steel pan), table tennis, computer coding, website design and visual art.
Summer In the City Day Camp
Each year, FOCH also operates a combination of both City-funded and independent summer programs for youth. Our signature Summer in the City program is a seasonal day camp held each summer at multiple sites for children aged 5 – 12 years old. Camp activities are designed to help participants keep physically active, develop their social and emotional skills and cultivate an interest in lifelong learning. Activities include organized sports and recreation, field trips to parks, museums, and notable landmarks around the city, art, craft and a choice of individual or group projects that stimulate participants’ exploration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Our Summer in the City camp begins shortly after Memorial Day and concludes on the Friday before Labor Day each year.