• Southeast Ventura County YMCA Receives $25,000 Grant From Lennox Foundation For STEAM Education At Y Summer Camps

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    May 15, 2018
    The Southeast Ventura County YMCA received a $25,000 grant from the Lennox Foundation to provide STEAM education to participants in this year's YMCA summer camps.
    STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics) is an integrated approach to learning. The program, through the Southeast Ventura County Y branches (Conejo Valley YMCA, Triunfo YMCA and Simi Valley Family YMCA), will reach over 225 campers each week. In addition to on-site STEAM activities, campers will visit Art Trek  in Newbury Park, a nonprofit art and music organization that encourages hands-on participation.
     
    The Lennox Foundation grant funds will also be applied to the Y's "Find My Genius" summer program, a six-week summer program offered at no cost to over 60 children who qualify for free or reduced-cost lunches and who are not reading at grade level.
     
    "The Lennox Foundation grant gives the YMCA the opportunity to include a strong learning component in our summer programs," says Megan Glynn, the Y's Senior Director of Advancement. "Campers are learning while having fun. It's a great combination."
     
    Heading the STEAM programs at the Y branches during the summer is Carol Mallett, Sumac Elementary School's STEAM specialist. "Students love participating in science demonstrations and experiments," says Mallett. “They thrive on exploring engineering challenges and creating beautiful art projects. All aspects are woven together with the support from technology. When you offer STEAM-inspired opportunities, students thrive on the exploration."
     
    Founded in 1964, the Southeast Ventura County YMCA’s mission is to build relationships, impact lives and strengthen our community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The nonprofit charitable organization serves more than 25,000 residents annually in the Conejo Valley, Moorpark and Simi Valley of which over 6,000 are provided financial assistance.
     
    For more information about the Southeast Ventura County YMCA and its summer programs, go to www.sevymca.org or call 805- 497-3081.
     
    Contact:
    Ally Barron, Director of Development
    abarron@sevymca.org, 805-497-9081 x102