June has arrived, and the DREAM team is already making it one for the books. From first days of summer camp to career adventures and high-flying challenges, our scholars are showing up with courage, curiosity, and community. Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to.
Summer Camp Kicks Off with New Shoe Day & Kicasso
Last Tuesday marked the first day of our Middle School Summer Camp, and what a way to start! New Shoe Day and Kicasso partnered with DREAM Alive to give scholars a truly one-of-a-kind experience — customizing and painting their very own sneakers to take home, learning about each organization’s impact in the community, and wrapping up with a barbecue buffet from Half Liter. Watching our scholars pour their creativity into every brushstroke was a joy, and the finished shoes said it all. A huge thank you to New Shoe Day and Kicasso for making day one so special.
High School Scholars Take on Bradford Woods
In partnership with Elevate Indianapolis, 14 high school scholars headed to Bradford Woods for Week 1 of the Summer Experience Level Up Camp — tackling rock walls, high ropes courses, and a leap-of-faith platform where they jumped out six feet trying to hit suspended balls of rope – harnesses on, hearts pounding. What made the day unforgettable wasn’t the height or the challenge, but the way scholars showed up for each other. It didn’t matter if you made it to the top — as long as you tried, you got encouragement, respect, and a high five at the end of it. That’s the DREAM Alive community in action.
Scholar Spotlight: Journee
Journee is a spirited 8th grader who has her opinions and isn’t afraid to state them. She hadn’t been at a DREAM Alive program in nearly 7 months, but she came back this summer for the first week of our Middle School Level Up Camp — and she showed up differently. Over the course of the week, she made new connections, reconnected with old friends, and when she felt herself getting upset, she asked for space instead of escalating. She leaned into new experiences and cheered others on. By the end of the week, she was already asking when she could come back.
