By Austin Lazek | Program Manager
The Village Exchange Center's youth programs had a terrific spring term, despite ongoing delays and shutdowns across the city. Students attended classes on a hybrid model and were able to meet afterschool and on weekends for some awesome youth programming at VEC. We have grown our efforts to reach more kids, more schools, and more families, and we are currently in the thick of our summer programming.
This spring our youth didn't stop exploring, making trips to local parks, pools, bookstores, the Denver Aquarium, and the Urban Air jump center. Our team continues to partner with the City of Aurora Parks and Open Spaces and Generation Wild. To date we have gone hiking in Boulder, kayaking at the Aurora Reservoir, and just last week joined our partner, The Urban Farm in Denver, to learn about equestrian care for a week long camp. So great to be outside!
In March, our kids joined Factory Five Five (and the Neighborhood Music School at Stanley) to learn about filmmaking. This mini-camp taught storytelling, project management, and video composition skills, and will serve as a model for seasons ahead when we bring more week-long programming to our kids. No matter the creative activity we present, our students focus on collaborating and supporting each other. Our partnerships and collective mission ensure that our youth continue to grow creatively, socially and academically.
June has seen our Village Summer Camps get off to a great start. We have already journeyed to the Village Farm, planting seeds for the season, learning about local ecology, healthy lifestyles, and playing tons of sports and games. Our campers also joined VEC staff and guest speakers at our very first Village Theater Camp in our new theater space. Students learned stagecraft and scenework, but also lessons on diversity in the arts, advocacy, the power of student voices, and how they will change the industry and the world. Very inspiring group! (Special thanks to our speakers and teachers, including Lisa Young of IDEA Stages, Ilasiea Gray, and the Aurora Fox Theater staff.) The weeks ahead will hold lessons in STEM, carpentry, agriculture, and teamwork, with two more weeks of summer camp coming in July.
As for our wonderful helpers, Village Youth continues to build its team of volunteers and counselors. We worked this spring with students attending Regis Jesuit High School, who brought additional academic support for our kids. Not be left out, our recent Natural Leaders graduates also joined our team of camp counselors this summer. With this support, our programs continue to build relationships with schools and young leaders throughout Aurora.
It's been a challenging past year, and we look to the months ahead with brave optimism. As we expand our team, our operations, and the scope of our facilities, VEC will continue to provide its neighborhood youth a fun, safe place to go each day. This fall, we look to providing more mini-camps and a space for students to recevie academic support, social-emotional coaching, and healthy snacks. We will also be partnering with Schomp Subaru and the Colorado Soccer Foundation to form a youth soccer team. This team will give local kids an opportunity to work and compete together. Stay tuned for more details about our event in August!
So proud of all we've accomplished - so much to look forward to!
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