Summer in the City
NABE NEWS
Summer in the City: A Season of Fun, Learning, and Transformation for Kids in San Francisco
This summer, more than 100 children aged 6 to 18 participated in the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House (“the Nabe”) exceptional “Summer in the City” program, a thrilling eight-week adventure filled with fun, learning, and exploration in San Francisco and the greater Bay Area.
For over 10 years, "Summer in the City" has been a cornerstone for countless children, perfecting the blend of happiness and learning. Each week is packed with four days of activities focused on reading and math at the Nabe and field trips within San Francisco, followed by a fifth day devoted to an exciting excursion in the greater Bay Area. On Fridays, the children board chartered buses to visit exciting places like Great America, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, and the Newark Aquatic Park.
During the week, smaller trips take them to local parks and museums using public transportation. This unique feature teaches the children how to navigate the city, empowering them to visit these places with their families later on.
Each summer, a diverse group of students comes together to learn from one another, forming a unique community. Sharon Johnson, the passionate leader of this group, is always excited to kick off the program. "I’m the biggest kid in this program," Sharon laughs.
To keep the atmosphere lively, the program also includes themed days such as "Bad Hair Day," "Pajama Day," "Twin Day," and "Mismatch Day." The latter is particularly fun, with kids mismatching their socks and shoes. Prizes are awarded to celebrate originality and creativity. The summer culminates in a talent show and exhibition where the children proudly showcase their work and projects from the program.
Children are grouped into four different activity categories, which they vote on themselves. This year’s groups were cooking, dance, art, and sports. Each activity is designed to be both enjoyable and educational, encouraging kids to learn new things and share their knowledge with others. For example, the art group created large cardboard animals and taught the other children how they did it. The dance group researched the history of women in hip-hop music, the sports group studied anatomy, and the cooking group not only prepared meals but also gave a lesson on healthy eating habits.
Over the years, the program has fine-tuned its approach, incorporating valuable lessons learned. For instance, the first trip is always to a nearby park so that Sharon can identify "the runners and the hiders" and ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone on future outings. This year, as in previous ones, the summer passed without any incidents.
What’s particularly gratifying is witnessing the transformation the children experience over the course of the program. Sharon shares that some start out hesitant or even a bit standoffish, but by the end, they’ve come together as one big family, having fun and laughing together.
From visits to nearby Potrero Hill parks to exploring Mission Dolores Park, the children gradually venture further from home, gaining confidence and independence along the way. It’s a summer of transformation, growth, and, above all, a whole lot of fun.
"Summer in the City" is not just a program; it's an experience that leaves a lasting impact on everyone involved, bringing joy, learning, and a sense of community to San Francisco’s youth.
If you are interested in supporting this program by sponsoring a family or a field trip or helping to purchase supplies, please contact Edward Hatter, edward@thenabe.org, the Nabe’s Executive Director.