ACTS -- Abundant Care Training Services

A provocative 7 week summer training program created for Detroit Metropolitan youth ages 6-15. This Overall program is designed to educate, enrich, enhance and inspire the lives of youth during summer hours and days when youth may be spending an excessive amount of time sedentary and stagnated from the utilization of their personal skills. Some of the hallmarks of the Skills for Life Summer Camp is: Read to Succeed Literacy Program, “I Think I’m Grown” (Life Skills), Video Production, Creation Station, Culinary Arts, Game Show Network, Archery, Sports Flexibility Training Camps (Archery/Baseball/Basketball/Flag Football/Soccer/Track), and the facilitation of various weekly field trips (ex. Greenfield Village, DIA, Roller Skating, Bowling, Movies, Red Oaks Water Park and C.J. Barrymore’s).

As always, our summer camp registration is based on a first come, first serve basis. Classes are Monday – Thursday from 8:30am – 3:00pm. Breakfast and Lunch is provided daily except for Friday. Friday’s are designed as field trip day. Latch key is provided from 7:30am – 8:30am and 3:00pm – 5:00pm for a fee of $7 per day or $25 per week. This year’s camp begins June 28th – August 12th. Fee to attend per child is $60. For one and $100. For two siblings. Typically the fee is only $25 to register. The ACTS “Skills for Life” Summer Camp and the Parent Orientation is held at the Woodbridge Community Youth Center (1200 W. Canfield, Detroit, MI 48201) near the Lodge Freeway. For additional information call (313) 832-4770.

How Will My Child Benefit From Summer Camp?

Chance to get away from daily emotional stresses of home or school
Opportunity to gain self-confidence and sense of accomplishment
Chance to learn how to be interdependent (not dependent!) and independent
Structured, supportive, nurturing environment from which to embark on new experiences and to test new ideas
Opportunity to acquire, practice and perfect valuable learning skills

Peace, quiet, no carpool, no need to stress out over supervising, chaperoning and generally providing entertainment for bored kids on school vacation...sound like a dream come true? From a parent's perspective, it is. In fact, for many busy moms and dads, the prospect of sending a child to summer camp sounds endlessly enticing. But what about summer camp from a child's perspective? As it turns out, summer camp is one of those rare topics upon which both kids and parents agree - almost unanimously! After all, most children love the prospect of playing, socializing, exploring and experimenting in the company of other friends and counselors - and parents love the fact that their child gets chance to experience such things.

But just what are the specific benefits of sending your child to summer camp, and why should you consider it?

First of all, summer camp is an ideal opportunity for children with specific emotional or behavioral needs to socialize with their peer group in a safe and structured but relaxed environment. Camps offer children who struggle with the pressures of academics a constructive and definitely educational atmosphere within they can acquire and practice learning skills like problem-solving and working as part of a team: skills your child can apply when he or she returns to school in the fall.

Like all camps, you'll find that they offer the same welcoming, supportive and family-oriented environment and a menu of activities ranging from dance, archery, swimming to arts, crafts and drama.

Sports-specific and/or subject-specific camps also operate just like "general" camps, but give campers the opportunity to spend concentrated amounts of time building skill and ability in one particular area. Does your child love baseball or soccer? This is an all-inclusive athletic camp that offers clinics and workshops as well as plenty of playing time! But no matter what type of camp you select, the bottom line is that your child is bound to reap the benefits of such an experience.

According to the American Camping Association, not only do summer camps provide kids with the chance to develop both independence (the ability to work effectively alone) and interdependence (the ability to work with others), camp experience can also build self-confidence and a sense of pride and accomplishment (through completing tasks, challenges and projects). Better yet, the opportunity to make new emotional and personal discoveries on a daily basis also helps kids generate a sense of self-control and, just as important, a sense of possibility.