‘Beyond Camp' gives students a summer of discovery and support
CADDO PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS)—For more than twenty years, the McKinney-Vento Homeless Services Program in Caddo Parish has hosted Beyond Camp, a summer camp designed specifically for students experiencing homelessness. It offers them a season full of enrichment, exploration, and support.
'Beyond Camp is a federally funded program created to support students who are experiencing homelessness by giving them experiences and opportunities they might not otherwise have,' said Dr. Norcha Lacy, Supervisor of the McKinney-Vento Program for Caddo Parish Schools.
Support children's hospitals through 'Spark Good' health campaign
'When we asked them what their favorite part was, they all said the field trips, because they went on one every day. They were able to experience things they wouldn't normally be able to experience in their normal lives, so we provide those experiences and opportunities for them during our camp,' Dr. Lacy shared.
From hands-on learning to daily adventures, the camp allows children to learn, grow, and enjoy being kids during summer.
Dr. Lacy encouraged others to form a strong team and reach out to community partners when bringing similar programs to their communities.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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‘Beyond Camp' gives students a summer of discovery and support
CADDO PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS)—For more than twenty years, the McKinney-Vento Homeless Services Program in Caddo Parish has hosted Beyond Camp, a summer camp designed specifically for students experiencing homelessness. It offers them a season full of enrichment, exploration, and support. 'Beyond Camp is a federally funded program created to support students who are experiencing homelessness by giving them experiences and opportunities they might not otherwise have,' said Dr. Norcha Lacy, Supervisor of the McKinney-Vento Program for Caddo Parish Schools. Support children's hospitals through 'Spark Good' health campaign 'When we asked them what their favorite part was, they all said the field trips, because they went on one every day. They were able to experience things they wouldn't normally be able to experience in their normal lives, so we provide those experiences and opportunities for them during our camp,' Dr. Lacy shared. From hands-on learning to daily adventures, the camp allows children to learn, grow, and enjoy being kids during summer. Dr. Lacy encouraged others to form a strong team and reach out to community partners when bringing similar programs to their communities. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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'This contract was focused around Equity, Diversity and Inclusion [EDI ]and the challenges around diversity and the growth of the city, the influx of new immigrants coming to the city, the historical history of those such as the African Canadians that have lived in the city, and the lack of unification of all those groups working together as our world changes,' said Nicole McKinney, Founder of WtC. 'We are in a global reckoning of change and so the ways of the old world are not the same as our world today.' With the support of the City's Health Kids, All Kids program, WtC worked with the Corporation of the City of Brantford to do two things; one being to offer free, introductory EDI training to those child serving organizations, and two, to create seven non-traditional activity-based events for children. 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'That advisory group was selected to make sure that we heard the voices of leaders from these equity-deserving communities in the city, and to help understand the concerns they had, the kinds of activities they felt were most important for children to engage in; activities that were psychologically safe, and that were representative of who they were and also representative of how they want to see their kids engage with other kids,' she said. 'There's been some amazing people within the city that have been so supportive, and those advisory group members need all the credit because they have really stepped up so much.' As far as what community members can expect from the B United initiative during the month of June, there will be free inclusion and empowerment training sessions, intended for child-serving organizations throughout the city, taking place throughout the month. 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