Redhound Enrichment Program to be featured in documentary

Corbin School System’s 21st Century Redhound Enrichment Program will be featured in a documentary after being named one of the nation’s best summer learning programs by the Johns Hopkins University.

The four-minute spotlight will air June 16 on the program called ‘Education News Parents Can Use’ sponsored by the United States Department of Education.

Karen West, the Special Projects Curriculum Supervisor of the program is flying to Washington to sit on a panel for the show.

The Redhound Enrichment program was selected by Arne Duncan, the United States Secretary of Education to be featured in the show for its unique design that draws on resources in the community and surrounding areas to provide hands-on experiences and exciting learning opportunities.  "The 21st Century Redhound Enrichment Program stands out as an innovative and effective approach to summer learning," says Ron Fairchild, Executive Director of the Center for Summer Learning.  "It is an outstanding example of what can be done through a strong partnership of educators, parents, community leaders and a dedicated staff. They have succeeded in creating a program that excites and inspires children, making learning both meaningful and enjoyable."

Redhound Enrichment began as a place to help children who had working parents and needed a place to go during the summer, but became much more. It is now a summer-long program with an enriching and educational focus.  The program also helps children overcome a lag in academics during the summer.

"Research shows that kids lose a lot of stuff through the summer months, so they are at a particular level in June and when they come back they have lost progress," John McGrath, a Deputy Secretary in the U.S. Department of Education said

Tuesday. He was onsite at Corbin Elementary School where the filming took place.

All summer learning in the program is built around a theme that draws on resources in the community and surrounding areas to provide hands-on experiences and exciting learning opportunities. 

"We do a strong job of balancing enrichment and academics in a summer camp format," West said. "We do a lot of field trips and activities that all ties in around a central theme. This summer’s theme is ‘Track around the World’ and this week the children are doing ‘African Safari.’"

Each week focuses on a different aspect of the theme, providing creative and challenging projects that relate to the core areas of mathematics, language arts, reading, science, social studies and arts/humanities.

The program involves many local and state organizations for the purpose of creating a dynamic summer learning experience. 

"Our strength is the way we use community based programs. For example Baptist Family Fitness Center and Baptist Reginal Medical Center and Cumberland Falls Resort Park are designing and hosting a fitness camp for the students," West said.
The program runs from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., beginning the first day that school is out for the summer and continues every weekday until school resumes in August, with a one-week vacation around the July 4 holiday.

The program costs $80 for the summer but there are many scholarships available for participants.

"Programs like this not only help kids stay where they are academically, but often times they will allow them to jump ahead, which is terrific," McGrath said. "This is an award-wining program that is recognized for its excellence all over the country, which is why we came here."

This program will be aired on PBS and can be watched online at the U.S. Department of Education Website archived Webcast center.