Princeton Groups Launch Pilot Summer Camp

PRINCETON, NJ — Princeton Community Housing and Princeton Nursery School are partnering on a pilot summer camp program at the Marcy T. Crimmins Learning Center in Princeton Community Village.

The program is designed for children ages 5 to 8 and is scheduled to run from late June through late August, with an open house tentatively planned for June 17 and the first day of camp on June 22.

According to the announcement, the program is built around access for neighborhood families.

Enrollment will be offered on a sliding scale based on household income, and families can register by the week or for the full summer.

Princeton Nursery School, which serves a diverse and multicultural student population in the Witherspoon-Jackson community, operates with a sliding-scale tuition model, bilingual staff and a family services framework.

The camp will serve up to 17 children each week at the Crimmins Learning Center, which is located within Princeton Community Housing's Princeton Community Village.

The center is named for Marcy T. Crimmins, described in the announcement as a longtime property manager of Princeton Community Village who supported access to early childhood education.

The announcement also states that Crimmins and colleague Lucy James were honored by Princeton Community Housing last fall during the village's 50th anniversary.

As part of the partnership, Princeton Community Housing is providing classroom space, furnishings, maintenance, housekeeping and outreach to neighborhood families.

Princeton Nursery School is providing the program, including certified staff, supplies and licensing.

According to the announcement, children enrolled in the camp will receive nutritious meals and take part in indoor and outdoor activities, neighborhood walking trips, off-site field trips and swim lessons.

Staff from both organizations are preparing the classroom and outdoor space for the summer program.

Princeton Community Housing's Social Services team has been contacting families with young children across its communities, and many families have already enrolled or expressed plans to do so.

"It has been incredibly exciting to see a part of Princeton Nursery School's strategic plan come to life through the launch of our first-ever summer camp program," said Emmanuela Possible, PNS's Community Engagement Associate. "Many of our teachers, staff, and board members contributed ideas and helped shape this vision, so it's especially meaningful to now see it become a reality for our students and families. Through our partnership with Princeton Community Housing, we're able to expand access to enriching summer experiences and continue supporting children beyond the traditional school year in a joyful, community-centered way."