An update on Summer Programs

This document is not intended to provide a comprehensive list of all the summer programming across the city. Many community-based organizations provide a wealth of support and opportunities for engagement with young people. The following is meant to provide an overview of what the City of Cambridge is doing directly and providing funding to support.

Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP)

DHSP Summer 2023 Programs for Middle Schoolers and Teens and Families to promote positive environments includes the following programming.

Cambridge Recreation Summer Basketball Leagues

One of the very significant opportunities for Cambridge young people ages 8 to 19 to engage in productive and fun activities is the Recreation Summer Basketball league. During Summer 2022, more than 380 young people participated in the 5 leagues. For players, coaches, and staff, the leagues offer more than skill-building and competition; they foster lasting relationships and build community. The leagues bring together families, younger and older siblings and friends.

Recreation is currently recruiting for 2023 Summer Basketball Leagues, which will run July 5 and run through mid-August. Leagues include:

Medina Dixon Instructional Basketball (Girls 11 & under), Donnelly Field

Davonte Neal Instructional League (Co-ed ages 8-11), Sennott Park

Sharif Moustafa Instructional League (Co-ed ages 9-13), Glacken Field

Fast Break League (Boys 12-14 / grades 6-8), Hoyt Field

Eurie Stamps Sr League (Boys 15 – 19 / grades 9-12+), Hoyt Field

The Cambridge Summer Food Program serves nutritious dinner meals at Summer Basketball League sites. For 2023 registration and scheduling details, click here.

Cambridge Youth Programs (CYP) Pre-Teen / Middle School Summer Programs

Offered Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. during the following sessions: Mini-session: July 5 – 7; Session 1: Week 1 and 2 (July 10-21); Session 2: Weeks 3 and 4 (July 24 – August 4); Session 3:

Weeks 5 and 6 (August 7 – August 18)

During Summer 2023, 260 youth will be participating in CYP’s Pre-Teen / Middle School Summer Programs.

Empowerment Program at Frisoli Youth Center:

This summer at Frisoli, young people will be exploring joy. Our goal is to provide an experience for youth to truly feel joy. Young people will leave the program every day being able to identify at least one time they felt joy throughout the day. Young people will be able to discover new activities that give them that “feel good’ feeling. We will be using Joy as an act of resistance against oppression and systematic racism. Empowering them to show up as their authentic self. Our goal is to build confidence this summer.

Sports Leadership Academy at Moore Youth Center:

Summer 2023 will be the summer of the “Dream Team” at the Sports Leadership Academy. This theme will live in the program in several ways. A strong team needs to understand the strengths and areas of growth of all its members. Over the course of the summer, young people will self- evaluate their skill level in a specific sport each week. Youth will be partnered according to skill level to promote peer leadership and connection. This system is meant to teach networking. Young people will explore sports that are unfamiliar in hopes that they find a new interest or passion.

Discovery Program at Russell Youth Center:

Discovery Program will promote positive youth interaction and provide young people with an opportunity to “Move” themselves towards discovery throughout the summer. Young people will be on a path of discovery that allows for them to motivate one another to overcome challenges, be in a space where they can become optimistic with others, becoming a valued member of the Russell Community while being an enthusiast. During their journey they will learn from experiences that allow for them to discover inner talents that focus on movement.

Swag Academy at Gately Youth Center:

This summer at Swag Academy our Gately community will begin to reform this specific idea of “swag”. Youth will begin to develop their own personal swag by exploring personal interests. Youth will explore their community through T-ride Tuesdays! T-ride Tuesdays will allow youth to commute to a new destination every week on public transportation. Youth will learn about the MBTA, how to use it, and move around their city.

Teen Summer Programs at DHSP

Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program (MSYEP)

The goal of MSYEP is to serve as a young person's first job experience and exposure to the world of work. The program is open to Cambridge residents ages 14 through the summer after completing high school. Teens are placed in public sector and non-profit jobs throughout Cambridge and in surrounding communities for six weeks during the summer. They work 20 hours a week and are paid minimum wage by the City.

Nearly half of the youth are placed in Summer Work and Learning sites, which offer participants a valuable educational and employment experience using the community’s resources to expose youth to potential educational or career paths. During Summer 2023, MSYEP will run from July 5 – August 11 and teens will make $15 per hour. There will be between 850 and 900 teens participating in this summer’s program.

Summer Teen Internships offered by Cambridge Youth Centers

Teens are matched to CYP Teen Internships through MSYEP

Boys to Men (Moses Youth Center) is a leadership empowerment internship for self-identified young men focusing on Wellness (Physical Fitness/Nutrition), Self-Care, Financial Literacy, Career Exploration, and Weekly Culture Dialogues centered around Social Justice, Music, Fashion, Art and Sports.

Youth Worker 101 (Frisoli Youth Center) is a leadership and skill-development program that is focused on developing our young people into future youth workers. As part of the training and reflective process, teen interns will have the opportunity to build skills and experience to facilitate developmentally appropriate programming for grades 4th -8th

ARTrepreneurship for Teens (Russell Youth Center) is an internship for teen creatives. Young people will have the opportunity to explore the journey of entrepreneurship through the lens of art expression and creativity. Our goal is to empower and educate young artists on how to build a career utilizing their own talents and gifts.

Teen Night Live is hosted by Cambridge Youth Programs, during Summer 2023 and invites Cambridge teens, ages 14 – 19, to come together and build community through games, events, music, sports, field trips, cookouts, and more! The activities will happen in the evening at the different Youth Centers.

Cambridge Summer Food Program

The Cambridge Summer Food Program provides free breakfast and lunch meals to Cambridge youth ages 18 and under. No identification (ID) required to get a meal and vegetarian options are available at every location.