Programs from the Front Porch
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Who can participate?

After School

Summer

Academic Advocacy & Lending Library

On The Porch

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. Examples are:
  • HEALTHY FOOD: The summer program included lots of trips and healthy food.  The kids are used to granola and water. 
  • SWIMMING: The kids went to Lake St. Clair Metropark to swim in the pool and waterslide. They also rode their bikes the 4 mile round trip ride to Chandler Park Aquatic Center a few times. 
  • CAMPING:  At Lower Huron Metropark's campground, within walking and biking distance of their Turtle Cove Water park - an amazing combination! 
  • BIKING AND BIKE WORKSHOPS: Kids have learned about changing tires, taking off chains, cleaning chains, and brakes.  They took several bike trips. 
  • LIBRARY : The kids enjoyed the bat presentation and got out books. Since the school year was so long and summer so short this year, we took a break from the reading race. 
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, one-on-one tutoring is provided, and basic needs assistance is provided as needed (coats, school supplies etc.). Advocates speak with school staff and parents to bridge the gaps between school, after-school, and home.

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.  They love the sandbox, picking raspberries and strawberries from the garden, and lots and lots of Play-Doh, arts and crafts, and bike fixing.


Off The Porch (Field Trips)

Places we’ve field tripped in the past 15 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
  • Lower Huron Metropark
  • Polish Art Center
  • Grosse Pointe Farms Park
The Front Porch P.O. Box 24744 Detroit, Michigan 48224 USA  frontporchdetroit@yahoo.com
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