Events
Early Learning Coalition Donates 50 Books for kids at City of Tallahassee Summer Camps!
On June 19, 2023, the Early Learning Coalition donated 50 books to I Believe to give away in our Summer Reading Activities at the City of Tallahassee Summer Camps. We need a total of about 130 books this Summer (based on enrollments), for our three Summer Reading Activities, and this is a great start!
Summer Reading Activities
This Summer, we are having a great time in the City of Tallahassee Summer Camps reading to kids. In addition to reading, we also do some kind of experiment, have a related art project and provide snacks. The kids seem to really be enjoying it. We are at three Summer Camps this year, the Lawrence-Gregory Community Center, LeVerne F. Payne Community Center and Jake Gaither Community Center.
Week 1: Patrick Picklebottom and the Penny Book
Week 4: What Does Brave Look Like?
Week 7: No Buddy Like a Book
Week 2: The Magical Yet
Week 3: Because
Week 5: How to Catch a Garden Fairy
Week 8: Stacey's Remarkable Books
Week 6: The Seeking Tree
The Older Kids (9-12) have been reading a Chapter book, "The Secret Lake."
Science Projects
Each week we had one science project. Below are pictures of two of our science projects, a lava lamp and elephant toothpaste.
lava lamp Project
the elephant toothpaste Project
Kids Artwork
Each week we had an art project to go with our reading activity. Here are two of our art projects (our bravery badges and the pictures the older kids drew based on the Secret Lake).
Book Giveaways
During the week of July 25, 2023, we did book giveaways for the kids at the Summer Reading Activities (ages 5-12). Here are pictures related to our first book giveaway on July 25, 2023. By the way, 50 of our books for the giveaway were donated by the Early Learning Coalition!
This Summer, we have also been working with the City of Tallahassee's Teen Camps one day a week. It's been interesting to see what engages teens. Here's what we've done:
Teen Camp
Week 1: A Presentation on the Dangers of Social Media, AI and Fake News.
Week 2: A Teen version of "Chopped."
Week 3: Mental Health Week, and we topped it off with Ro-Tel Dip.
Week 4: We made two cakes, a Chocolate Carrot Cake and a Pistachio Cake. They turned out great!
Chocolate Carrot Cake and Pistachio Cake
On our final day at the Teen Camp, we had two practical presentations: Cheryl Shine, CPA, presented a fun and informative session on financial wellness for teens and a Dee Humose, gave a presentation on her life and career path. Afterwards each teen got a goodie bag to take home. It was a great close out!
Week 5: We made banana bread and zucchini bread.
Week 6: This is our wrap up week and we are having a financial wellness class for teens, a talk about one career path, and hopefully a presentation about Bright Futures!
Past Events
1st Annual Golf Tournament
On March 4th, 2022, we had our first annual Golf Tournament at the Jake Gaither Golf Course in Tallahassee. For our first tournament, it went well (although we started small). We were able to provide food and drinks, because Publix donated a gift card to purchase food, and Sonny’s BBQ (at 3101 Dick Wilson Blvd.) donated Iced Tea for the event.
Thank you so much to everyone who donated money or participated in the Tournament. Special thanks to: Publix Supermarkets, Sonny’s BBQ, Steel Horse Riders, Inc., Bogan Public Management Company, and Crosby Welding, Inc.
Reading at Lawrence-Gregory Community Center
During the Summer of 2022, our volunteers read to the kids at the Lawrence-Gregory Community Center. We read Knight Owl, Here We Are, The Rainbow Fish, Stacey's Extraordinary Words, and The Moose Who Loved Noodles. We also had snacks for the kids and toys and books for them to take home.
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Books the kids chose from to take home.
Funding to develop this website comes from the Leon County non-profit services grant.
2nd Annual Golf Tournament
On May 12, 2023, we had a Second Annual Golf Tournament at Southwood Golf Tournament. It was a wonderful success and a lot of fun. Special thanks to all of the Golfers who attended, as well as the following Sponsors: Andy & Regla Mompeller, Dennis & Jenny Nash, Bill Bogan, Bogan Public Management Company, James & Alisha Moon, Moon Contracting LLC, Eli Nortelus, Nortelus Robers Group, City Beauty Supply II, and Mark McQuary, DDS.
