Summer Up - Jackson Park

In operation since the summer of 2005, Mount Wachusett Community College’s Division of Access and Transition, in collaboration with the Mayors’ offices of the cities of Fitchburg, Leominster and Gardner, as well as various community based agencies, implemented the Summer UP program at 10 park sites in 2011. Summer UP provides safe, paid summer work experience, leadership/citizenship skills training, community service and exposure to college to 152 local youth. A total of 575 children and Summer UP youth benefited from the program.

While providing safe recreational spaces for five weeks each summer, the program was designed to lower risky behavior and increase employment opportunities for area students. The objectives are to increase leadership, citizenship and college readiness skills for students and to ensure a safe, healthy, summer experience for at-risk children.

MWCC staff assists youth employees in implementing daily craft, sports, and reading activities at each park site. They also chaperoned weekly outings to area swimming facilities. Youth participated in a one-week training and orientation session to prepare them. Each Friday, the group embarks on field trips such as hiking up Wachusett Mountain, swimming at Leominster State Forest, or donating time at Community Harvest to help prevent hunger.