Programs from the Front Porch
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Who can participate?

After School

Summer

Academic Advocacy

On The Porch

Reading Race

Community Service Race

Off The Porch (Field Trips)

Who can participate?

Youth age 7 and up who live within walking distance of the neighborhood on the Eastside of Detroit near Kelly Road, their friends or cousins who stay with them. Most kids who attend the program do so of their own choosing and are connected to the kids who are already in the program, but with parental permission. If you think your child might be interested and you live near us, please email frontporchdetroit@yahoo.com

After School

Help with homework is offered and if children have no homework we provide library books and educational games. Help with homework is at a local elementary school and on the Porch.

Summer

Every year is different, depending on what the kids ask for and what opportunities are available. Summer 2011 included:
  • Reading with the Detroit Public Library – Winner of the Book Race was A. The kids read a total of 2,806 pages and went to Pontiac Lake State Park to fish with the other library kids who read. 
  • Bike riding and fountain swimming on the Riverwalk.
  • Touring the Living Museum First Congregational Church Underground Railroad Tour, the Main Detroit Public Library, visiting a university and then cooling off in the Hart Plaza fountain.
  • Eating healthy lunches and snacks
  • Biking up to Chandler Park Aquatic Center- about 2 miles there and 2 miles back.  Total miles from bike rides to Chandler Park, on the Riverwalk and at Stony Creek was about 65 miles.
  • Walking home from the bus several times- 1 mile each time.  
  • Racing in a triathlon at Stony Creek and competing in the sandcastle building contest.
  • Paddling a Voyageur Canoe at Metrobeach Metropark and swimming in the pool. 
  • Camping at Stony Creek Metropark.
  • Taking the public bus to the Franklin Branch of the Detroit Public Library to read. Seeing the Exotic Zoo, making paper flowers, and watching a Magician
Academic Advocacy

This is the best part of the Porch and the program that has the potential to help every school-aged child on earth. It is simple and it works.  Children are visited at school by an advocate, their grades are monitored. Advocates are a bridge between school, after-school, and home. Basic needs assistance is provided as needed (coats, school supplies etc.). 

On The Porch

Informal activities are provided on the street and chosen by the kids. This could be anything from jumping rope, making jewelry or having a water balloon fight. This is year-round depending on the weather.

Reading Race

Kids race to read the most pages by the end of summer in partner reading. They participate in the Detroit Public Library's Summer Reading Club. Teens help the younger kids read and get credit for community service in the community service race. 

Community Service 

Mostly the kids help the other kids in the program. Without the kids who do community service we couldn't do half of what we do for children. We are so proud of their contribution to the community.

Off The Porch (Field Trips)

Places we’ve field tripped in the past 10 years and would recommend:
  • Cranbrook Science Museum
  • Detroit Science Center
  • Dossin Museum
  • Belle Isle
  • African Heritage Cultural Center
  • Detroit Institute of Arts
  • Detroit Historical Museum
  • Detroit Public Library
  • Detroit Zoo
  • The Henry Ford
  • The Garden Bowl
  • Campus Martius Skating Rink
  • Clark Park Ice Rink
  • Stony Creek Metropark
  • Kensington Metropark
  • Metrobeach Metropark
  • Seven Ponds Nature Center
  • The Octagon House
  • U of M Dearborn Environmental Interpretive Center
  • Ann Arbor Hands On Museum
  • U of M Natural History Museum
  • Heilmann Recreation Center
  • Young Recreation Center
  • Del Ray Pier Fishing Day
  • Gallup Park, Ann Arbor
  • City of Detroit Balduck Park
  • Chicago – Museum of Science and Industry, Aquarium, Waterfront Park
  • Michigan State University – Small Animal Day
  • Michigan State University – the Bug House
  • Rowe's Strawberry Farm
  • Assorted Haunted Houses
  • Assorted Corn Field Mazes
  • Rouge Park Mountain Bike Trail
  • Lakeside Park Mountain Bike Trail
  • Detroit City Airport Young Eagles
  • Grand Traverse Band Chippewa Youth Camp
  • First Baptist Church – Underground Railroad
  • Second Congregational Church – Underground Railroad
  • Chandler Park Aquatic Center
  • Rooted in Community in Florida
  • Rooted in Community in San Francisco (with DAN)
  • Noel Night
  • Fort Wayne
  • Universoul Circus
  • Detroit Shock
  • Matrix Theater
  • Harvest Festival Pow Wow
  • Red Oaks Water Park
  • Benehana
  • Mexicantown
  • Detroit Agriculture Network Seed Planting Workshop
  • Millennium Center for Community Theater
  • To see one of our kids play basketball
  • To see one of our kids play football
  • CJ Barrymore’s
  • PuppetArt
  • Spring Valley Trout Farm
The Front Porch P.O. Box 24744 Detroit, Michigan 48224 USA  frontporchdetroit@yahoo.com

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