2008 Summer Learning Program

Young Warrior's Learning Institute

On August 1, 2008 we finished our first summer learning program called the Young Warrior’s Learning Institute. This was an 8 week academic enrichment program conducted by Group Excellence. The program ran over the student’s summer vacation. This program was offered to the students living in and around the Hamilton Park Community of Dallas. Over the summer the children were instructed in Math, Science, Nutrition and fundamentals of Spanish. But in addition, there were some life skills included in the curriculum. They were schooled in the value of service through volunteerism and leadership. They even had a volunteer project to complete for the Children's Medical Center of Dallas.

One thing that we tried to do was to link their academic studies to the prospects of a better career and their impact on society. We wanted to show them where a good education could take them. They went on 2 field trips. They went to a Hensel Phelps major high rise construction site and to a Lockheed Martin aerospace plant. Both of these companies hosted the kids and exposed them to technical careers in engineering and science. Our goal was to make math, science and education in general, relevant to their possible future careers.