Summer 2025 Programs Recap

Sep 18

5 min read

Dear Global Kids Community,

This summer, Global Kids students embraced a season of learning, leadership, and discovery. Through international travel, global citizenship programs, career exploration, college readiness, and community-building, they took on opportunities that challenged them and prepared them to thrive in high school, college, and beyond.

Students experienced transformative moments — immersing themselves in Puerto Rico’s culture, history, and sustainability practices; visiting the United Nations; exploring STEM careers; crossing the Brooklyn Bridge; and participating in hands-on leadership programs. These experiences reflect our mission of empowering young people to engage with the world, take action, and make a difference in their communities.

As we celebrate these achievements, we are energized for the school year ahead, with action projects, leadership opportunities, and new learning adventures set to inspire our youth to continue growing into engaged global citizens.

Read on to discover the unforgettable experiences our students enjoyed!

Youth Leaders Immerse Themselves in Puerto Rico’s Culture, Heritage and Sustainable Practices

During the final days of summer, Global Kids DC students embarked on an educational journey across Puerto Rico, blending culture, history, environmental exploration, and youth leadership.

The trip began in Old San Juan, where students explored colonial history and set intentions for the week while immersing themselves in Puerto Rico’s heritage. In Santurce, youth leaders joined local artist Alexis Bousquet for a walking tour of Calle Cerca’s vibrant murals, learning how street art communicates resistance, resilience, and cultural pride. Students also experienced Puerto Rico’s culinary traditions through a food and history tour, tasting dishes rooted in African, Taíno, and Spanish influences.

From there, youth leaders traveled to Guaynabo and Caguas for immersive workshops with Wuru Taíno Tekiro’uo, deepening their understanding of Taíno history, values, and environmental stewardship. At Parque La Marquesa and the Botanical Garden in Caguas, they explored connections between ancestral knowledge, ecology, and identity through hands-on activities, discussions, and reflection.

Among the trip’s most memorable experiences was a youth exchange in Loíza with Taller Salud, featuring bomba dance lessons, basketball, shared meals, and participation in the Santiago de los Niños Festival, a vibrant celebration of Afro-Puerto Rican heritage. Students also soaked up Puerto Rico’s natural beauty by hiking El Yunque, swimming near waterfalls, and kayaking in Fajardo’s bioluminescent bay. The group concluded their time in Old San Juan and traveled outside the city for an immersive sustainable farming and cooking farm-to-table style at Finca La Zafra family farm. The trip’s last stop, Ponce, included small-city community, youth leadership through street art and a reflective beach day on Isla Cardona.

This unique experience offered students the chance to grow as leaders by connecting with peers, engaging deeply in Puerto Rico’s culture and environment, and embracing new challenges through hands-on learning. They returned energized, more self-assured, and eager to put their learning into action at home and in the world around them.

Exploring Global Issues Through Summer Institutes

From New York City to Washington, D.C., Global Kids youth dedicated their summer to tackling global issues, building advocacy skills, and discovering what it means to be active, engaged leaders.

In New York City, youth participated in the annual Summer Institute, where they examined the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, took part in interactive workshops, visited institutions like the United Nations and City College, and traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with elected officials and D.C. youth leaders.

Meanwhile, in D.C. students strengthened their advocacy skills and developed action projects as part of the D.C. Summer Institute, soaking up knowledge, culture, and inspiration. Whether in powerful conversations at Vital Voices, creative moments at the Hirshhorn, or explorations at the Anacostia Museum, Folklife Festival, and American Indian Museum, every stop offered new perspectives that shaped their growth as global citizens.

Building Foundations Through College and Career Readiness Programs

As part of the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), 294 students participated in paid internships across 77 worksites in industries including childcare, real estate, retail, consulting, health care, arts, government, transportation, and sports management. Notable internship sites included MIOYM Real Estate, MTA, DOT, the offices of Senator Jessica Ramos and Assembly Member Torres, and Bronx River Art Center. Several students returned to the same worksites across multiple years, with some invited for long-term roles.

The program achieved a 90% internship completion rate, with 100% of students satisfied and 98% reporting increased confidence for future workplaces. Additionally, 86 students completed project-based internship readiness programs, focusing on college and career readiness, entrepreneurship, and global citizenship. While teen SYEP participants at the Bronx Studio School for Writers & Artists engaged in Global Kids –style initiatives such as a “Shark Tank” pitch competition and explorations of sustainable parks and green spaces, others built resumes, developed business proposals, explored post-secondary options, and engaged in projects aligned with the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals – with 100% reporting greater confidence in their future success and 98% feeling more motivated to stay in school.

Moreover, students from Bryant High School also toured LaGuardia Community College to learn about campus life and visited Con Edison’s Learning Center to explore energy systems and career opportunities, gaining hands-on experiences that support their academic and professional growth.

These experiences connected classroom learning to real-world applications, inspiring students in STEM and encouraging them to explore future academic and career opportunities with confidence.

Bridging the Gap: Summer Programs Prepare Students for a Successful High School Start

Incoming freshmen at the High School for Public Service (HSPS) and Bronxdale High School spent the summer building confidence, community, and excitement for high school. At HSPS, students participated in trips to Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), the Brooklyn Bridge, and the school farm, along with creative projects like tie-dying and team-building games.

Meanwhile, Bronxdale students connected with peers, explored their new school, and participated in engaging workshops and outings. These programs not only prepared students academically, socially, and emotionally for high school, but also helped them develop leadership skills, build lasting friendships, and gain the confidence to navigate new challenges successfully.

Strengthening Connections: Summer Rising Combats Learning Loss and Builds Community

Global Kids was proud to offer Summer Rising at its sites, serving more than 600 students –including 230 elementary and 400 middle schoolers – with a summer full of academic support, enrichment, and community-building experiences. A highlight of the program was hands-on STEM exploration, where students designed roller coasters and rockets while learning about motion, force, and design. Their understanding deepened during visits to amusement parks, where they saw these principles come to life in the real world, sparking excitement and curiosity about STEM. Students also expanded their horizons through trips to the Philadelphia Zoo and Bronx Zoo, connecting with nature while learning about animals and habitats.

Through games, team challenges, and project-based learning, students built connections, practiced social-emotional skills, and explored new ways to lead, create, and contribute to their communities. In July, youth from DYCD-sponsored summer camps at Q300 and PS19 brought energy and teamwork to Field Day, coming together for friendly competition, collaborative challenges, and a celebration of community spirit.

Summer Rising not only supported academic growth and helped combat learning loss, but also gave students the chance to celebrate discovery, teamwork, and joy, ensuring they returned to school confident and inspired for the year ahead.