Explore Next Door Past Summer Camps

Group circle photo from Cultural Experience Summer Camp 2021

Each and every child has a fundamental right to an excellent education — one that leaves her ready to create a fulfilling life, make positive change, and help build an equitable future for everyone.

Yet, too many children — especially in Black, Latino and low-income neighborhoods — don’t have access to the learning opportunities they need.

BIPOC Support Foundation’s (BSF) Explore Next Door Youth Enrichment Program offers a free afterschool program that provides underserved youth of San Diego with multicultural experiences, behavioral health tools, personal development, community engagement, and more. BSF currently offers this innovative educational program for students that reside in historically underserved populations. The afterschool program was designed as an extension of our annual multicultural Explore Next Door summer camp, with the goal of providing students with enhanced learning opportunities during the school year.
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The mental impact of Covid-19 on our youth has been watched carefully through studies of school-aged children. The social isolation, lack of outdoor activities, disconnection from their communities, and high stress environments has left us in desperate need to find the new normal. BIPOC Support Foundation specifically addresses the issues that make adjusting around devastating events such as a pandemic more difficult for BIPOC communities.

BSF’s Explore Next Door Youth Enrichment Program bridges the cultural and financial differences of disadvantaged San Diego youth by providing a robust toolbox of skills for long-term success, and childcare for low income families while parents are still at work.

Past Camps

STEAM Experiences (2-week camp)
‍Focus: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math
August 7th - August 18th
Time: 8am - 5pm
Location: City Heights/Weingart Library
3795 Fairmount Avenue, San Diego, CA 92105
Grades: 4th, 5th & 6th
Join us for two weeks of immersive science, technology, engineering, art, and math activities. 3-D printing, digital art, DNA extraction, and the science of cooking are only some of the fun activities and experiments planned for this Explore Next Door Summer Camp! 4th to 6th grade students will learn about the incredible contributions to science from marginalized voices such as BIPOC and Indigenous Peoples, and how those contributions have shaped our present day technology.
The summer programs are made possible thanks to grant support from The San Diego Foundation. the Harris Foundation, Nordson foundation and San Marcos Community Foundation.

It's Lit!
‍Focus: Reading & writing Experiences (with FUN Activities)
July 31st - August 4thTime: 8am - 5pm
Location: Valencia Park Elementary
5880 Skyline Drive, San Diego, CA 92114
Grades: 2nd & 3rd
‍Our Explore Next Door: It’s Lit! program encourages 2nd and 3rd grade students to explore and translate the depths of their imagination through literature. Via the creation of short stories, poetry, and spoken word material, participants will learn to harness the potential of language for creative self-expression. Diverse local children’s authors and lyrical artists will illustrate the range of rewarding careers associated with literature. Engaging academic learning will be paired with art, cultural exploration, word games, and other enriching activities throughout the week-long program—enabling students to learn and play through literacy.

It's Lit Camp two girls reading in the garden

BEHIND THE CURTAIN
‍Focus: Performance Arts/Career Pathways
July 24 - July 28th
Time: 8am - 5pm (11am to 3pm at New Village Arts)
Location: Valencia Park Elementary
5880 Skyline Drive, San Diego, CA 92114
Grades: 4th & 5th
‍In partnership with local theater company New Village Arts, this week-long summer camp teaches 4th and 5th graders about the many exciting opportunities in theater, with a focus on careers, communication, stress management, and teamwork. Teachers are industry professionals who will provide a fun introduction into technical and practical theater work, sharing how these skills translate to other careers. In the mornings, students will be tutored in math, English, and science, then will experience a rewarding lineup of hands-on experiences and classes that include carpentry, acting, audio, electrics, costume design, and self-management.

San Diego (2-week camp)
‍Focus: Outdoor Experiences
July 10 - July 21st
Time: 9am - 3pm
Location: City Heights/Weingart Library
3795 Fairmount Avenue, San Diego, CA 92105
Ages: 10-14
‍Explorers will experience fun and engaging field trips led by educators to community farms, outdoor education centers, and nature retreats. Learn about nature through art, play games, and other exciting activities.

Valencia Park : END Thrive Outside*
‍Focus: Outdoor Experiences
June 20 - July 21st (5-week camp)
Time: 1pm - 5pm
Location: Valencia Park Elementary
5880 Skyline Drive, San Diego, CA
1st & 2nd grade
‍In our Outdoor Nature Experiences program, 1st and 2nd grade students will play, explore, investigate, and connect with nature. During the 5-week program based at Valencia Park Elementary School, 1st and 2nd grade students will do nature arts and crafts, build forts, sing songs, dig in the dirt, explore bug homes, and undertake scavenger hunts. Students will learn important behavioral health tools using mindfulness practices. Fun and engaging field trips led by educators to community farms, outdoor education centers, and nature retreats will aid students in learning about our local environment and so much more!

Join us for our 2023 Summer Camps!
All camps are FREE!!
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‍THRIVE OUTSIDE CAMPS
‍North County (San Marcos, Vista, Escondido) Oceanside residents are welcomed!
‍Focus: Outdoor Experiences
‍FIRST
‍The first day of this camp falls on Tuesday.
BSF will observe the commemoration of Juneteenth on Monday, June 19th
June 20 - June 30th (2-week camp)
Time: 9am - 3pm
Location: Palomar Community College
1140 W Mission Rd, San Marcos, CA 92069
Ages: 10-14
‍Explorers will experience fun and engaging field trips led by educators to community farms, outdoor education centers, and nature retreats. Learn about nature through art, play games, and other exciting activities.