Without programs and places to play and explore, young people often find summer boring and empty. For inner-city families, Chinatown Summer is a breath of fresh air -- an exciting summer program for hundreds of neighborhood children and youth. An extension of the Red Oak program and the Oak Street Youth Center, Chinatown Summer provides a summer full of fun and learning.
In the Red Oak summer program, a full day includes academic classes, free choice times, clubs, trips, art, gym, and playground activities. In a relaxed atmosphere, children learn and play together. The program uses multicultural topics to teach English, reading, writing, and other academic skills. The curriculum also includes journals, art projects, cooking, music, dance, and cultural understanding.
During the summer at the Oak Street Youth Center, older children and youth develop leadership skills, participate in academic activities and classes, go on exploratory and fun field trips, and learn new skills. Academics include ESL classes which are available four days a week, and math and college prep classes. Activities for the youth include arts, crafts and hobby programs; computer clubs; musical instruction; book clubs; leadership projects; structured physical activities; and girls' and guys' groups. And to encourage youth to explore the city and their surroundings, we plan weekly field trips to various places of interest in and around Boston to visit different neighborhoods, and attend cultural events where they learn about different cultures, individuals, and communities.And lastly, the summer is not complete until we have held our weekend camping trips! | 
