PSCDC Imperial's Summer Program Returns - Cooking Academy, Crafts Classes, and Science Experiments Galore

CALEXICO, CA – The highly anticipated Summer Program returned again this year to keep school-aged children playing, exploring, and learning throughout their summer break! Supplemental education for children has always been a key tenet of PSCDC's services, and has been performed most commonly during the school year through afterschool homework help and tutoring. At the end of the school year however, the Imperial PSCDC team and community partners coordinate together to host one of PSCDC's biggest resident-focused programs!

"I believe it is really important that we are able to offer a quality and structure program for the residents," said Luz Vallejo, PSCDC Director of Services for Imperial County. "We have a group of very talented and creative coordinators who make that difference with the quality of their work. All of our services are free of charge and very competitive with other paid services. Our Imperial Valley team always goes above and beyond are very proud of the work we do."

Imperial PSCDC's Summer Program is an 8-week program, from June 13th to August 8th, that focuses on differing subjects. Participants get involved with interesting and relevant science lessons that are enriched with creative, hands-on craft projects! This year's crafts projects included recycling egg cartons to make tree art, coffee filter jellyfish sun catchers, puffy paint art, oobleck, peanut butter banana roll ups, tissue paper art and lava lamps made from recycled water bottles! Free nutritious lunches were also available for young residents every day during the program with help from our local community partner, Calexico Neighborhood House!

Aside from the craft projects and science experiments, the most popular aspect of the program amongst residents was the cooking academy! With support from the University of California Cooperative Extension's Martha Lopez and Jose Vallejo, the cooking academy was held every Thursday, and taught young residents the basics of cooking. Students worked in teams lead by PSCDC coordinators and resident volunteers to prepare trail mix, French toast with fruit, veggie quesadillas, hummus and vegtable wraps, minestrone soup, and vegetable and rice stir fry! Everyone's favorite part of the cooking classes was taste testing their food and sharing it with their parents. On the last day of the cooking class, the students were given certificates of completion by the University of California, and the community celebrated with a movie night complete with pizza, popcorn, and ice cream sundaes!

"Multiple families praised the Summer Program because they were very satisfied with the experience their kids had this summer," mentioned Luz Vallejo. "Families returned for their second year in our summer program, and some parents reported significant positive changes in their children like preparing meals for themselves, actively involved in family meal preparations, and consistently assisting their parents."

This summer program connected neighboring PSCDC properties together, as residents from Calexico Family, Cielo Grande, Las Praderas, Villa Del Sol, Villa Dorada, and Villa Primavera all participated in the summer program.

PSCDC would like to thank Calexico Neighborhood House, the University of California, and resident volunteers for the help they provided to make this year's summer program an outstanding success. Through the hard work of PSCDC Resident Services Coordinators Pamela Mardueno, Layla Perez, Linda Vega, and Ana Cruz, the Imperial Summer Program ended with young residents refreshed and excited to continue their learning in their classrooms!