A Summer of Fun, Learning & Play at THA’s Family Properties
THA’s young tenants had plenty to look forward to this summer thanks to a partnership with Greentrike and Seeds of Peace Projects. From July 8th to August 8th, 2024, kids joined in a variety of activities designed to build relationships, social-emotional skills, and connections with the community.
The programming included a diverse group of more than 450 children aged 5 to 14 across Bay Terrace, Dixon Village and Salishan. The activities covered the range from digital art to LEGO engineering, virtual reality, and sports like basketball and soccer—all chosen to deliver a fun and engaging experience.
Bricks 4 Kidz, Black Muse, Swan Creek Art Academy, Game Time, Hearts for Kids, Metro Parks Tacoma, and Club Z! Tutoring of Tacoma all provided programs for the summer series, and the programs came with free lunches, snacks, and an energetic and nurturing staff.
Program Highlights
Strong Relationships & Engagement
- A welcoming environment and staff helped participants feel seen, valued, and comfortable.
- Relationship building was prioritized to actively engage youth.
Youth Centered & Inclusive Approach
- Activities were tailored to youth preferences, facilitating engagement.
- Provider commitment to inclusivity ensured participant representation in broad opportunities such as art & culture, and STEAM content.
Supportive & Positive Environment
- Environments and staff were nurturing and supportive of participants emotional and physical well-being.
- Free lunches and snacks were provided to keep youth full.
- Program providers valued connections with talented and vibrant youth.
Social Emotional Learning
One key goal for all the summer fun was to help children connect with their community, building strong relationships with supportive adults. The programs emphasized social-emotional learning (SEL) from beginning to end, providing leadership opportunities and practice in positive decision-making throughout.
Greentrike and Seeds of Peace Projects also delivered training for providers and site leads, including strategies on creating a safe and supportive environment, fostering youth engagement, and supporting peer to peer learning.
Site leads also had the chance to connect with coaches from Schools Out Washington (SOWA), who brought their experience in youth development to help our program staff grow.
We look forward to returning next year to continue supporting growth through SEL and helping youth make responsible decisions in their everyday lives.
