September 21, 2006 Issue                                       

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©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

Summit Children’s Program offering exciting new activities

The Summit Children’s Program (SCP) is one of Mt. Airy’s best-kept secrets. It is housed in the Summit Presbyterian Church at 6757 Greene St. (at the corner of Westview and Greene Streets). The sound of children’s laughter doesn’t infringe on the other offices that occupy the Church. In fact it enhances the atmosphere and vice versa.

The Summit Children’s Program began as a family-owned operation in the mid-1980s with a strong philosophy for care and respect of pre-school age children in the community. The program has thrived over the years, largely through word-of-mouth support and testimonials. The SCP currently serves children 18 months to 5 years old for three, four or five days a week, full days or half days. There is also an after-school program (“School Age Care,” or SAC) for children in kindergarten through sixth grade, and a summer camp for multiple age groups.

In addition to the spacious classrooms, the Summit Children’s Program has a large backyard playground and offers walks to The Weaver’s Way Co-Op, Carpenters Woods, and other neighborhood treasures. Pre-school students enjoy arts and crafts projects, nature explorations, singing and dancing, story time, school-readiness activities, and more. There are also field trips to destinations ranging from Jenks Playground to Sandy Hill Farm (featuring hayrides, pony rides, and opportunities to pet farm animals).

Kids enjoy many activities at Summit’s Children’s Program.

School-age children participate in homework help, computer instruction, sports activities, cooking lessons, drama club, science investigations, and other age-appropriate — and fun — pastimes. The summer camp includes field trips, swimming excursions, nature hikes, sports, games, and similarly exciting activities.

An important feature of the Summit Children’s Program, unique even in Mt.Airy, is that all students have the opportunity to mingle with children of different ages, backgrounds, neighborhoods, cultures, and economic means. Most come from Mt. Airy, Germantown, Chestnut Hill, Wyndmoor, Olney, and Glenside. Summit’s Board of Directors is diverse as well and includes SCP parents, community representatives, men, women, working professionals, and stay-at-home moms and dads.

This fall, the Summit Children’s Program is offering many exciting new activities, such as science clubs and dance instruction, and has openings in all of its classes. In addition, the fourth annual “Summit Splurge Auction” will take place on Saturday, Nov. 18, and feature fine food, good music, over a hundred great auction items, and excellent socializing opportunities.

For more information, please contact: The Summit Children’s Program, 6757 Greene St., Philadelphia, PA 19119, phone: 215-848-4451.

E-mail: summit_kids@verizon.net, Website: www.summitchildrensprogram.org.