PHX Reporter

Gov. Doug Ducey (R-Ariz.) recently toured the Phoenix YMCA, one of the organizations collaborating with the governor's office for the free AZ OnTrack Summer Camp.

Ducey promised more summer programs for children in his State of the State address in January, KPHO reported. 

"There's been a lot of learning loss through the last two years," Ducey said, according to KPHO. "Turns out, a screen just isn't a good place for our kids to learn, and it has really been our underserved, our students of color, and low-income areas that fell even further behind. Many of our families haven't had Wi-Fi or multiple screens, so it's an all-hands-on-deck effort to get kids caught up to eliminate that learning loss — math, reading, American civics — in a fun, bright, safe environment."

Ducey also discussed the benefits that the YMCA offers to families.

"They can come to the Y; they can spend nearly eight weeks here," Ducey said. "They can get caught up, eliminate whatever learning loss happened during the pandemic. They can learn how to swim. There's childcare, there's sports, there's activity, and there's no cost at all to the parents."

Lisa Graham Keegan, the chairperson for AZ OnTrack Summer Camp and former state superintendent, articulated her desire to differentiate these summer programs from a typical school day. 

"This has to be more than summer school," Graham Keegan said, according to KPHO. "Summer school sometimes feels like a drag, 'Oh, I didn't get all the credits I needed.' That's not what this is; this is a celebration of being back together and an acknowledgment that we’ve lost a lot, and we have to get back."  

Ducey concurred and similarly wanted to emphasize the program as a fun experience for children. 

"If kids look at this as a summer camp, as a getaway, as a break from Mom and Dad, at no cost — I think they’re going to have a great summer," Ducey said, according to KPHO. “I just have to say to parents — your kids have fallen behind, and their social engagement and their confidence has taken a hit. There's just no escaping this. Now's the time to get back."