For second summer in a row, Milwaukee Y brings Day Camp to county parks

MILWAUKEE -- After a few weeks out of school, reading and math skills get a little rusty. Researchers call it "summer reading loss." But the Milwaukee Y is working to prevent students from starting a new school year behind.

"So far, I like to play games because sometimes I don't like to do math, math is not my favorite subject. I'm like, no thank you," said Kariysa Jenkins, student going into 3rd grade.

But at the Milwaukee Y Day Camp, learning can happen through play. Milwaukee YMCA campers practice their math skills in an engineering project that involves building a tower out of marshmallows.

"We have fun all the day, all the time," said Jamil Torres, student going into 4th grade.

The point is, it doesn't feel like school...

"We're exercising their minds to keep their skills," said Chris Przedpelski, Milwaukee Y Day Camp Association Director.

The camp involves a minimum of 30 minutes of reading, 30 minutes of science and 30 minutes of math per day.

"Kids can start, on average, two months behind the school when they start in fall from where they left off in spring," said Przedpelski.

For low-income families, keeping up can be even harder. So the Y partnered with Milwaukee County parks to reach more children -- offering camp at four parks.

The groups can make use of the Wilson Park Pavilion but the Y really tries to emphasize time outside -- which is why even kids who are taking a math test, are doing it in the park.

"What we're trying to do is not necessarily advance where they left off in spring, but keep it a level playing field," said Przedpelski.

You can sign up for Day camp at the Y through the end of August -- but it is first come, first served.