Children in the Trinity Commons Gym raise their hands in front of an inflatable globe as part of a science class during the 2023 Children's Summer Program.

Rising and Shining Together: Children’s Summer Program Recap

  • July 26, 2023

How are we all connected to each other, the earth, and the cosmos? This year, kindergartners through fifth graders taking part in the Children’s Summer Program explored these big questions through making artwork, exploring science, cooking, singing, and physical expression.

Children perform a song in Trinity Commons during the 2023 Summer Program
Children play in the Trinity Commons gym during the 2023 Summer Program
A girl smiles at the camera while chopping broccoli during the 2023 Children's Summer Program
A boy paints a sculpture during the 2023 Children's Summer Program
Children hold up their drawings in the Trinity Commons art studio
Two boys playing soccer in the Trinity Commons gymnasium
Two girls paint sculptures in the Trinity Commons art studio
A girl holds up pieces of broccoli during a cooking class in the Trinity Commons kitchen
Children perform a song during the Trinity Summer Program
Children perform a song in Trinity Commons during the 2023 Summer Program
Children play in the Trinity Commons gym during the 2023 Summer Program
A girl smiles at the camera while chopping broccoli during the 2023 Children's Summer Program
A boy paints a sculpture during the 2023 Children's Summer Program
Children hold up their drawings in the Trinity Commons art studio
Two boys playing soccer in the Trinity Commons gymnasium
Two girls paint sculptures in the Trinity Commons art studio
A girl holds up pieces of broccoli during a cooking class in the Trinity Commons kitchen
Children perform a song during the Trinity Summer Program

The 2023 program theme, Rise and Shine Together, was explored in two week-long sessions from July 10–14 and July 17–21: the first with a focus on life on Earth, the second turning towards the cosmos.

In linked activities, young explorers learned how the different subjects they were engaging with each day are interrelated: learning the science of cooking and preparing food with guest chefs from the Sylvia Center; sculpting islands, animals, planets, extraterrestrial creatures, and rocket ships in art class; and preparing for a culminating presentation for parents each week that included musical performances, a gallery of art and science projects, and enjoying a snack prepared in cooking class.

A highlight was experiencing the Earth Dome and mobile planetarium provided by Mobile Ed, a way to show the wonder and scale of life on our planet and in our universe right in the Trinity Commons gymnasium.

A group of children sitting in the Trinity Commons gymnasium sit before a large inflatable Earth globe learning a science lesson.

Kathryn Carroll, Program Manager for Children & Families, summed up the two action-packed weeks.

“What a joy it was to be able to host children and teaching artists this summer in Trinity Commons from across the NYC boroughs, including our parish and Lower Manhattan neighborhood. A lot of fun was had, new connections made, healthy and delicious dishes composed and consumed, and imaginations sparked!”

Children hold up their sculptures for the camera in the Trinity Commons art studio.

For more summer fun and enrichment, children ages two and up and families are invited to join Summer Sundays, happening after the 9am service in the churchyard through August 13.

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