The First Parish in Lincoln is introducing Summer Spirit, a full-day program running from August 10–21 for kids who’ve completed grades K-7, with counselor-in-training opportunities for eighth-graders.
“I’ve heard parents mention the lack of an in-town opportunity for ‘good’ (i.e., fun, interesting, safe, etc.) childcare in between the time Lincoln Summer Day Camp (and others) end, and the start of the school year,” said Margit Griffith, director of religious education at the First Parish in Lincoln. Many families have two working parents, “and they don’t all choose to vacation during the last two weeks of August, and not all have nannies, especially once children begin school. College-age summer caregivers start to head back to their schools. This all leaves a child care dilemma here in town.”
Summer Spirit will be headquartered at the church’s Parish House (the stone church) at 14 Bedford Rd., across from Bemis Hall), “and we’ll make use of the historic building, grounds, and abutting conservation lands,” Griffith said.
Each of the two weeks has a theme: “Spirit of Earth” and “Spirit of Lincoln.” Details on activities as well as the parent handbook, registration form, dates and rates, tuition assistance, and contact information can be found at www.fplincoln.org/summer-spirit.
“The program is quite secular in the sense that activities and themes are distinctly summer-day-camp-ish,” Griffith said. “However, our guiding principles in how we interact with each other and with the children focuses on kindness, caring, community service, and support We will relate everything we do to how we nurture each other, our neighbors, and the earth. We may practice moments of mindfulness, but religious practices and beliefs will not be part of Summer Spirit.
Funding for Summer Spirit operations is fronted from the church’s Religious Exploration budget for children and youth programs, with the hope that the program gets enough participants to cover costs, Griffith said. Tuition assistance is available. Any proceeds after all program operations costs are covered will be used to fund scholarships.
The program will run from from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. with optional early drop-off at 8 a.m. or late pickup until 5 p.m. for an additional charge. The cost per child is $290 for one week or $530 for both weeks, with discounts for multiple children.
“We also seek to form community partners through this and all church endeavors. Working together is the best way for local organizations to more fully meet the needs of all residents,” Griffith said. “First Parish in Lincoln has rededicated itself to reaching out to continue old tried-and-true traditions and find new, outside-the-box ways of serving with and for all our neighbors.”