What We Provide
Our Horizons Atlanta sites are structured, tuition-free summer learning and healthy youth development programs that offer scholars:
- A minimum of six hours of daily program offerings. Our programs typically operate on an 8:00am-3:00pm schedule, and some sites provide aftercare programs as well.
- A minimum of 28 days of programming across six weeks during the summer break from public school. Our program dates vary by site, but generally begin the first week of June and conclude mid-to-late July.
- Programs supervised, facilitated, and taught by professional teaching staff in a 5:1 scholar to teacher learning environment. Each class of 15 scholars has a Lead Teacher (certified by the state of Georgia or employed by an approved private/charter institution), Assistant Teacher, and Classroom Assistant (typically an education student from our local universities). Furthermore, each site is directed by a professional member of the nonprofit youth development or education field; most of whom have many years of instructional experience working with K-8 students.
- Access to one-on-one and small group intervention by a trained Reading Specialist, whose sole responsibility during the summer program is to utilize available data to work with scholars who need extra support and coach teachers to ensure the individual needs of scholars are being met.
- A focus on engaging instructional methods and topics, including the use of project based and differentiated learning, and a full spectrum of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) subjects and lessons offered across our region.
- A focus on youth development, leadership, and life-skills (such as social emotional learning) proven to support children and youth on their path to a successful, civically engaged, and economically stable adulthood.
- 2-3 hours of swim instruction weekly, designed to boost confidence and other character-building skills, provide an outlet for healthy physical activity, and teach life-saving skills to scholars who typically don’t have access to pools and instruction.
- A weekly field trip to Atlanta area science, cultural, arts, and entertainment centers to promote cultural competency and expand the horizons of our scholars who may not otherwise benefit from such exposure.
- A minimum of two meals and one snack daily to address our scholars’ physical needs and help close the hunger gap that exists for many children who depend on the Free/Reduced Price Lunch program during the school year.
- Transportation provided to and from field trips, swimming, and special events for all scholars, and transportation to/from our program sites offered for programs that require it geographically.