麻州政府和84個組織合作今夏在125個地點為青少年辦免費活動

Governor Healey Kicks Off 2023 Summer Nights Program 

DCR Expands Youth Engagement Program to 84 Organizations Hosting Free 
Sports, Arts, and Nature Exploration Activities in Cities Around Massachusetts 

 MA Summer Night Program announcement. (Photo by Chutze Chou)

Governor Maura Healey said the health of youth is the
major goal of the "Summer Night" program. (Photo by Chutze Chou)

              (Boston Orange 綜合報導) 麻州的「夏夜活動 (Summer Nights Program) 」7月11日在麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey) ，波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 等政要雲集中， 以一場籃球賽在海德公園的法蘭西斯馬汀尼紀念公園 (F【rancis D. Martini Memorial Shell Park) 正式上場。

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu says as a mom of two young kids,
she knows how important it is to have summer program. (Photo by Chutze Chou)

              在7、8月的晚上，為市區內13至21歲青少年提供娛樂及教育機會的麻州「夏夜活動」，今年跨入第9年。麻州州長奚莉、副州長Kim Driscoll決定擴大辦理，和84個組織合作，在125個地點，提供免費的體育、藝術、音樂及輔導生活技能講座等活動。

YES is one of the 84 partner organizations received funding from
 Summer Night program.

              今年的”夏夜活動”將在波士頓市的Allston, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston等地區，以及麻州的Brockton、劍橋市(Cambridge)、 Chelsea、費奇堡市(Fitchburg) Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, 羅爾市(Lowell), Lynn, Methuen, Milton, New Bedford,春田市( Springfield), Stoughton, Taunton 和屋斯特(Worcester)市等地方舉行。

              費奇堡市市今年擴展辦理的新地點。

             

大合照。 (周菊子攝)

奚莉市長強調，青少年身心健康意味著麻州會有更好未來，因此可以為青少年提供免費又安全的娛樂學習機會的「夏夜活動」，非常重要。

              麻州政府表示，自從2015年和4個合作夥伴推出「夏夜活動」以來，共服務了全州各地大約2萬名青少年。今年經費共約300萬元，其中260萬元直接撥給合作夥伴，其餘則用於警察值勤，場地設備以及市場行銷，人事費用等。

DCR在啟動式擺出動物皮毛，教青少年認識不同動物。 (周菊子攝)

              麻州能源及環境事務廳廳長Rebecca Tepper，原本是瑞維爾市(Revere)市長，今年4月或聘為保存及娛樂局(Department of Conservation & Recreation)新任局長的Brian Arrigo，麻州眾議員Liz Miranda，麻州眾議員Rob Consalvo等人也都出席了啟動式。

              「夏夜活動」將持續至8月20日，活動項目包括籃球、排球、瑜伽、舞蹈、武術、腰旗橄欖球、玉米洞、釣魚、乒乓球、有氧拳擊、游泳、露營、划船、皮划艇、烹飪等活動 、繪畫、尊巴舞、躲避球、網球和自然探索。 課程還包括領導技能培養、健康和保健、詩歌、學術輔導、講故事、動畫、音樂、媒體製作以及職業和大學準備課程。

              有3個活動供應商將提劇場，游泳，以及划艇等活動。

              「夏夜活動」將提供免費的渡輪套票，以方便參加活動者及其家人在波士頓海港島嶼間來回。

              查詢完整的DCR部門夏夜活動項目，可上網https://www.mass.gov/info-details/dcr-summer-nights-program。

BOSTON – As part of its commitment to promoting the safety and health of Massachusetts’ young people, the Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced the expansion of the Department of Conservation’s successful Summer Nights Program. Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper, and Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner (DCR) Brian Arrigo kicked off the department’s annual Summer Nights Program this morning with a game of basketball with teens and young adults at the Francis D. Martini Memorial Shell Park in Hyde Park.                                  
The Summer Nights Program, in its ninth year, provides recreational and educational opportunities for young people, ages 13 to 21, in urban areas around the state during evening hours throughout July and August. This year, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has expanded the program to its largest reach yet, partnering with 84 organizations that will provide free activities including sports, arts and crafts, music, and mentoring and life skills workshops at   approximately 125 locations.                                                                                                     This year’s Summer Nights communities are: Boston (Allston, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston), Brockton, Cambridge, Chelsea, Fitchburg, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Methuen, Milton, New Bedford, Springfield, Stoughton, Taunton and Worcester. The expansion into Fitchburg is a new component of this year’s program.              

 "We are thrilled to be expanding the successful Summer Nights Program into more communities across Massachusetts, providing more teens and young adults with free and safe opportunities to learn, grow, and even play some basketball,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Programs like Summer Nights give young people opportunities to build healthy relationships, while also serving as a critical tool for violence prevention during the hot summer months. Summer Nights is also free, making fun recreational activities available to every family who wants to participate.” 

"What makes this program work so well is our direct collaboration with state, local, and community-based organizations and dedicated municipalities all focused on creating impactful opportunities for our young people,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Our administration will always look for ways to strengthen smart programs like Summer Nights. This year, we’ll reach thousands of young people. And, of course, we’ll take any chance to get out and play basketball.” 

The program is a continuation of the administration’s commitment to bringing people together, as it’s organized around partnerships with municipalities, community-focused organizations, and public safety agencies. The program launched in 2015 with four partners and has now grown to hosting programming for roughly 20,000 young people in urban areas around the state. Funding for this year’s program is $3 million, with $2.6 million going directly to partners and the remaining funds for police details, equipment, marketing, and staffing costs. 

"DCR’s Summer Nights Program gives thousands of kids and young adults in our cities the opportunity to spend their evenings taking part in safe, fun activities in their communities like playing kickball or fishing,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Making summer recreation available to city residents is a matter of equity, and that is a central focus of many of our agencies going forward.” 

“Summer Nights is one of the most rewarding and exciting programs that DCR offers because we can see the direct impact it has on kids across the state,” said DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo. “We believe easy access to our outdoor spaces and natural resources is critical for creating healthy communities and should be available to all children and families regardless of financial ability. This is how we grow the next generation of athletes, community leaders, and stewards of our parks.” 

“We’re grateful to Governor Healey, her administration, and the more than 30 community organizations in Boston who are creating opportunities for our young people and their families to have safe, fun, and healthy ways to spend time together outside this summer,” said Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. “As we work to be the best place in the country for families, we’re focused on having the most active, fun summer yet across our neighborhoods.” 

The Summer Nights Program will run through August 20 and offers activities such as basketball, volleyball, yoga, dance, martial arts, flag football, corn-hole, fishing, ping-pong, cardio boxing, swimming, camping, rowing, kayaking, cooking, painting, Zumba, dodgeball, tennis, and nature exploration. Programming also includes sessions on leadership skill-building, health and wellness, poetry, academic tutoring, storytelling, animation, music, media production, and career and college readiness programs. Additionally, three providers will provide accessible and adaptive programs, including theater, swimming, and kayaking. The program also offers free ferry passes for Summer Nights participants and their families to the Boston Harbor Islands through Boston Harbor Now. For a full list of programming, please visit DCR’s Summer Nights Program webpage.   
 

Each summer, DCR prioritizes providing safe, fun, and low-cost recreational programming for young people and families across the state. DCR will also offer the popular Movies in the Parks Series as part of the Summer Nights Program with showings of family-friendly movies at the agency’s Hatch Memorial Shell in Boston, Fall River Heritage State Park, Red Rock Park at Lynn Shores Reservation, Middlesex Fells Reservation in Stoneham, Breakheart Reservation in Saugus and Wompatuck State Park. This year’s featured movies will include Minions: Rise of Gru, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Puss in Boots: Last Wish, The Goonies, Back to the Future, Super Mario Bros., and Thor: Love and Thunder.