REAL KIDS SUMMER
Serving 300 youth in 2008, ages 9-12, during the summer, REAL Kids (Reading and Enrichment Academy for Learning) combats summer learning loss while building literacy, social and emotional skills, and physical health among participants.

In March of 2006, Harlem RBI’s REAL Kids Program was named the winner of the Johns Hopkins University’s “Center for Summer Learning Excellence Award” in a competition that is national in scope. REAL Kids is a model summer learning program for youth.

In 2007, Harlem RBI’s REAL Kids Program received the James Patterson Pageturner Award which honors organizations that go to extraordinary lengths to spread the joy of books and reading across the country.

In 2007, the Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University completed an assessment of Harlem RBI's REAL Kids Program with great results.  To view the complete assessment, click here.

Youth participate in:

• team-based activities in the classroom focusing on literacy development and values exploration
• instructional and competitive baseball and softball leagues
• weekly field trips
• a 5-day sleep-away camp at summer’s end

• improve reading skills to bridge summer learning gaps
• develop social and emotional skills, including conflict resolution and goal-setting
• learn and demonstrate the Harlem RBI Values
• gain exposure to new people and places
• improve physical health

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