Summer Stream Camp Returns To Bristol With Free Programs For Kids & Teens

Snyder-Girotti Elementary School. File photo. Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com

The 21st Century Summer Stream Camp is set to return to Bristol Borough this summer and it will offer no-cost educational and recreational programs for local students.

The federally-funded program will serve students with academic enrichment, recreation activities, and free meals.

Evan Van Schie, the program director of federal grants for the borough’s learning centers, presented details about the upcoming summer camp at last week’s Bristol Borough Council meeting.

“We are funded in part by 21st Century Community Learning Centers. This is a federal program,” Van Schie said.

The camp at Snyder-Girotti Elementary School will serve students entering first through sixth grade, with St. Mark Catholic School students in grades five through eight also included. As of the council meeting, 133 students had already registered.

“Our camp schedule will be June 26 to August 1 with no program on July 3 due to the Fourth of July weekend,” Van Schie said.

The program runs Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon, with free breakfast served from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and lunch from noon to 12:30 p.m. The meals are provided by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Van Schie noted that the meals are available to all children in the community, not just camp participants.

“Even if you’re not a part of the 21st Century program, we are open meal sites so any student or child under the age of 18 can come to Snyder-Girotti during these meal times and receive a meal,” he said. “You do not have to be a part of our program to receive that service.”

The daily schedule divides students by age groups. First through third graders begin with breakfast, followed by academics from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m., then recreation from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., with lunch and dismissal afterward. Fourth through eighth graders follow the reverse schedule, starting with recreation and ending with academics.

Camp activities include classroom instruction with certified teachers focusing on summer reading projects, math journals, and English and language arts work.

Students are grouped by grade level to ensure appropriate instruction, Van Schie said.

For recreation, students can choose between athletics or performing arts. The performing arts option includes singing, dancing, acting, music theory, and visual arts. The athletics track offers various sports and enrichment activities.

The camp also features weekly special programs from community partners, including Penn Community Bank, Bristol Borough Police Department, Cops and Kids, NAMI, Mad Science, Franklin Institute, track and field training, arts, and a field day.

A performance of “Annie” is planned for the end of camp.

Field trips are also being organized, including visits to Tyler State Park for kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, and river safety lessons.

Younger students will visit Grundy Library to learn about summer reading opportunities.

For older students, Bristol High School will host a separate camp for rising seventh through 12th graders from June 30 to July 31, Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Summer credit recovery for 12th graders will run from June 23 to July 31.

Additional high school activities include garden club, weightlifting, drama program, summer recreation, service learning, and open gym.

The 21st Century program in the borough recently passed a federal monitoring visit with flying colors.

“In February of 2025 we had our [state] and federal monitoring visit from the federal government and PDE,” Van Schie said. “Proud to share that we passed all 72 compliance areas for the 21st Century grant.”

During the 2024-2025 school year, the program served 216 students at Snyder-Girotti Elementary School with daily services including homework help, tutoring, academic enrichment, and teacher-run programs. At Bristol High School, 357 students participated in study hall, teacher-led programs, study hub, tutoring, and credit recovery, officials said.

“Since the summer of 2024, 21st Century and the school district through credit recovery has recovered successfully 122 courses,” Van Schie stated. “This is a huge academic success for the school overall.”

Council members expressed appreciation for the program.

Parents and community members interested in learning more about the 21st Century Summer Stream Camp can contact Van Schie at evanvanschie21stcclc@gmail.com.

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