• This program provides the children the opportunity to enjoy activities they otherwise would not be able to afford.
• Services up to 35 homeless children (ages 7-16) in the CHF transitional housing community
• Variety of activities such as swimming, bowling, miniature golfing, hiking, crafting, sports, and games. The children have also visited the Denver Zoo, museums, the Colorado State Capitol, and the US Mint.

Twice a week for ten weeks during the summer these children participate in a variety of activities such as swimming, bowling, miniature golfing, hiking, crafting, sports, and games. The children have also visited the Denver Zoo, museums, the Colorado State Capitol, and the US Mint. They have participated in community service projects. The program offers them educational opportunities outside of the classroom and shows them how they can make a difference in their community.

This program provides the children the opportunity to enjoy activities they otherwise would not be able to afford. They are latch key kids whose parents’ are working hard to achieve self-sufficiency and do not have budgets that can afford such luxuries.

Gary Hickmon, Retired Volunteer Director of the Summer Youth Program -
“ My motivation for developing the Summer Youth Program was seeing these kids left alone during the summer with nothing to do while their parents were working many of the kids are from single parents who work 1 to 2 jobs. I wanted there to be something for these kids to do and at the same time learn something.”

“For example, on a trip to a local swimming pool the lifeguard explained the rules to the kids. No sooner had the lifeguard finished before one of the boys jumped into the deep end, after being told they had to pass a swimming test before going into the deep end. The boy could not swim and the lifeguard had to go in after him. We pulled all of our kids out of the pool. The kids learned a valuable life lesson that day about the importance of following rules. We explained to them that rules are not to squelch everyone’s fun, but for their protection.”

One boy, we’ll call Mike, had been struggling with school. He just didn’t seem interested. Gary earned Mike’s trust and confidence and they developed a friendship. Gary mentored Mike through the school year. The transformation was remarkable, by January he applied for the gifted and talented program at his high school. Mike’s attitude and achievement in school has improved remarkably. Mike’s life is on the right track now and his future is bright.