Closing the Summer Programming Gap for Scarborough Kids

In Scarborough's Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIAs), school closure over the summer often means lost learning routines, fewer meals, isolation, and reduced access to programming.

Northpine Foundation has invested in Aspire for Higher to close the summer programming gap for children with a free summer camp for children aged 7–12 across Centennial College and Maplewood Secondary School, providing structured programming including physical education, mental wellness, life skills, mentorship, and daily meals.

The camp runs Jin the summer with intensive sessions, maintaining high staff ratios and age-grouped cohorts. Mental health sessions are led by Black Health Professionals Network facilitators, with parent sessions facilitated aas well.

The program will also create paid leadership roles for older youth, giving them work experience, while providing younger campers with relatable mentors from their community.

The Northpine investment supports this pilot as a foundation for potential deeper programming and engagement with the children in these Scarborough NIAs.