Summer Program
[camps | how to enroll | about our program]

There are several options to consider when enrolling (see How to Enroll) for the summer program:

• Enroll in one or more camps, which generally run from 8:30 to 3:30 pm, Monday through Thursdays.
• If you need a full day camp (from 7:30 to 5:30 pm) and want a full week camp (Monday through Friday) then select the "Day Camp" option for the appropriate camp. Once you complete the online enrollment our staff will contact you for your specific selection. This option also includes the weekly field trips as well as swimming (if you enroll early, see below) which is in the mornings from Tuesday through Friday (although swimming is an additional fee - approximately $60 for 4 weeks). NOTE: Swimming is dependent upon the conditions/availability of the local swimming pool.
• Enroll in the entire summer program, which includes all camps, and provides a slight discount over enrolling in the camps individually.
• The Freedom School is a 5-week program and at our site is intended for children under 11 years of age; for older children (11-14 years old) they should enroll in the "Math/Computer Tech" camp; there are two sessions and it begins a week before the Freedom Schools, but they conclude at the same time.

Swimming

Swimming is through Oakland Parks and Recreation, and this year our students will participate in the swimming program at Fremont High School. The swim lessons are led by qualified swim instructors. There are two classes, one for ages 4-7, and the other for older children. The class sessions run for 2 weeks (Tuesday-Friday), and we enroll in 2, two week sessions, running from June 30 through July 24. Young children (4-7) pay $60, and older children pay $50. This is the cost of the swimming lessons, and we transport children to and from the pool. Children should bring a comfortable and appropriate swimsuit, a large towel, and flip flops. For safety purposes, students are only allowed to wear flip flops while at the pool, and thus should come to school with other shoes.

Camp Descriptions

Freedom School	Designed to develop academic, cultural and self-confidence, Oakland Freedom School (OFS) is a five-week summer literacy program that uses African American literature and culture to engage children ages 5 to 13 and their families in developing positive self and community identity. OFS provides leadership training, strengthens academic skills and self-esteem, and supports community improvement opportunities for children in low-income communities.
Math/Computer Tech	Students will explore computer graphic design and computer game creation. Led by Jah Awakoaiye, current Ile Omode director, a computer engineer and former department chair of the Computer Science department at Laney College, students will learn about the "other side" of video games - namely their design, creation, and development. Students will be placed in one of two classes based on their math aptitude. The camp is designed to provide hands-on instruction to develop an understanding of key conceptual models in Algebra (including Pre-Algebra and Algebra 1), and will explore advanced concepts for students moving to Geometry and Algebra 2. Read about an 8th grade math "wiz" trained at Ile Omode.
Hip Hop Camp	Students will learn about the history and business of hip hop, as well as writing, arranging and composing. This hands-on camp will provide a glimpse into the music industry. Enjoy the song, "Mad World", written and produced by students during last year's Hip Hop camp.
Adventures in the Great Outdoors	Summer is incomplete without a camping trip, and students will prepare for a 3-day camping trip. From Monday through Wednesday, students will learn about safety, equipment, preparation and making camp. They will leave Thursday morning and return on Saturday, and will have an opportunity to hike, fish, boat, make a camp fire and other fun wilderness activities.
Creative Art	Students will have a chance to explore traditional art forms led by our dynamic Lisa Ramos.

How to Enroll

Complete an application online. After completing the application you'll be contacted by our staff. If you have any questions you can always reach us at (510) 632-8230 or send email to Mama Kelly Kouyate.

About the Summer Program
A summer program is offered at the school for ages 5-14. Parents with children younger than 5 are invited to apply to our preschool, which is open year-round. The summer program is open to children who are not students at Ile Omode. The program runs for approximately 8 weeks, beginning on June 21 and running through August 13.

Why a Summer Program is Critical
Studies, have found that children generally suffer a month to three month loss during their summer vacation; and this is most pronounced in math. In "Lasting Consequences of the Summer Learning Gap” the 2007 study further extended this finding, suggesting that a lack of summer academic focus resulted in the achievement gap between children from low-income and high-income families. The study’s lead author (Karl Alexander) said, “What we are able to do is trace back in time the disparities between the two groups of children, and to a very substantial degree, we trace the difference back to summer learning differences over the elementary school years.”

Thus it becomes extremely important to ensure children are academically nurtured during the summer break, to promote their continued success at the next grade or to address specific problems which are limiting them from reaching their fullest potential. While at the same time, we have to remain mindful that summer should also be a time for fun and exploration. Ile Omode’s program is designed with these two ideas in mind: (1) promote our children readiness for the next grade, and (2) make sure that every child has a “fun” summer experience.

Academic Emphasis
Academically, we focus on two critical strands. The first, language arts, principally focusing on reading and writing, and the second mathematics. Children are divided into age groups. Students may be shifted into higher or lower age groups depending on their academic readiness, which is assessed in the first two days of the summer program.

Language Arts
Our language arts program stresses culturally relevant reading, particularly at younger ages that is meaningful and captures student interest. In the younger age groups there is an emphasis on phonemic awareness, phonics and decoding skills. At older ages we stress the need for thought-provoking, intellectually challenging literature. Our program’s goal is to create students who have a passion for reading and writing, and view the two as essential tools in empowering their lives.

Mathematics
The summer math program continues our highly successful math curriculum. Students are segmented into ability groups. During the 6-weeks of camps there is a greater emphasis on math concepts, with manipulatives, spatial activities, and real-world problem solving. The 2-week Academic Bootcamp shifts the emphasis slightly, with a slightly larger focus on problem solving and advanced preparation for the fall. In the Academic Bootcamp we want to introduce lessons to students that they’ll probably receive within the first two months of school. During both programs we make extensive use of technology, both computer and other materials. Different problem solving strategies are explored and group problem solving is emphasized, especially within the older age groups, where the emphasis is on Algebra and Geometry. In the younger ages we want students to build their math “senses” and projects will emphasize pattern identification, logic puzzles, while learning to communicate with math.  

Fun
Our children live in a largely urban, isolated setting, for both practical purposes and issues of safety. They unfortunately don’t have their parents’ and grandparents’ experience of playing at local parks or in the neighborhood until the sun went down. Our summer program attempts to rekindle this spirit. We’re also very much interested in the notion of developing a playground culture, where children learn through other children the rules of games, such as tetherball, kickball, softball, four-square, and countless other games.

Our summer program emphasizes both play and sports. Children are allowed to bring their bikes to the school, and learn safety and simple bike mechanics. Older children go on bike rides. We encourage both free and structured play, and our program introduces children to a number of sports. We teach the mechanics and the rules. Generally each summer our children participate in a local swim program for 4 weeks (many have joined a local swim team in the process). There is a weekly field trip, and in the past has included trips to the Zeum, Chabot Science Center, Waterworld, and other local sites and experiences.

Our Educational Philosophy
Ile Omode is grounded in academic and cultural principles which provide a foundation for the development of self-determined scholarship and leadership. Our goal is to create a learning environment which encourages creative problem solving, teamwork, and confidence. Through learning experiences that are both challenging and fun, we are preparing our children to compete in a technologically advanced society. We emphasize African values and community as a framework for the utilization of this technology. Our vision is that our students will become highly motivated and creative leaders who are both capable and committed to the betterment of our nation.