Get to Know: Southeast Community Services Center
Southeast Community Services Center, along with their Camp STEAM, is a unique community partner to The Patachou Foundation. According to Education Coordinator Christopher Nunn, Camp STEAM is a “choice-based camp.” Nunn says unlike other summer camps, there is minimal planning and kids get to determine themselves what activities they will do each day. Nunn and Sam Pullen, Youth Services and Education Coach, do plan a few daily activities with the kids such as swimming. “They get to explore what they like,” explains Nunn. “Even if that means running around and acting crazy with their friends, that’s fine with us. We simply help them do that in a safe and productive way.”
Southeast Community Services Center Quick Facts:
- Grades 4 through 8
- Around 30 kids
- Assists youth and families in food security, financial stability, and higher education
- Also known as Camp STEAM
During The Patachou Foundation's Food Explorers Club lessons at Southeast, kids make a variety of nutritious treats, ranging from fruit salad to vegetable kabobs. Before diving in, the kids participate in a lesson taught by one of our Food Explorers Club educators, to learn more about what they are making, as well as healthy eating habits. After a lesson at Southeast, a few groups of students were asked what they learned from their fruit salad activity that day. “Fruit is delicious,” exclaimed one of the girls. “And even if your food has vegetables in it, it can still taste good. Sometimes, you don’t even taste it!”Impacts such as these are the reason we love to partner with schools and summer camps such as Southeast’s Camp STEAM. Nunn once again explained the impact The Patachou Foundation had on his students. “With our previous food arrangement, the kids just didn’t eat the food,” he explains. “They eat the Patachou food. And I just have found that they feel more satisfied.”We’ll be getting to know our all of our community partners throughout the summer. Want to fight childhood hunger and food insecurity in your community? Get involved today!