Summer Spotlight: Exploring, Creating, and Growing Across Cambridge OST

One of the best parts of summer is getting the opportunity to visit our OST programs and see the incredible learning, creativity, and joy taking place throughout Cambridge. Every site has its own unique energy, and every visit is a reminder of the passion and dedication our OST professionals bring to young people each and every day.

Here are a few highlights from recent site visits!

Gately Youth Center
Walking into Gately Youth Center feels like stepping into a hub of creativity and possibility. Throughout the day, young people rotate through four to five enriching workshops that keep them engaged, challenged, and inspired. From sewing and volleyball to beatmaking and theater improv, youth are exploring new interests while building skills and confidence.

One standout experience was the Audio Theater Workshop, where young people transform written scripts into fully voiced productions. Think of it as a cross between a stage play and a podcast! Participants select a script, choose a character, practice delivering their lines with emotion, and then head into Gately's music studio to professionally record their performances. Whether it's comedy, mystery, drama, or tragedy, these young storytellers are bringing stories to life one voice at a time.

I also had the opportunity to spend time with Gately's Teen Internship Program. Their young leaders are developing skills in networking, professionalism, teamwork, and event planning. They're already putting those skills into action by organizing a community Block Party at Rindge Field on August 10 for all ages. Stay tuned for more details. It's exciting to see youth leading the way and creating opportunities for their community.

Peabody Community Schools
This summer, Peabody Community Schools has fully embraced an ocean themed adventure, inviting young people to "Dive Into the Action!" Each week introduces a new theme that combines hands-on learning with creativity and exploration:

• Conservation Week challenged youth to think about protecting our oceans by creating awareness posters and learning fascinating facts. One favorite? More humans have been to space than to the deepest part of the ocean!
• During Shark Week, students tackled a STEAM engineering challenge to save Shawn the Shark after Gill the Goldfish got him into trouble. Using limited materials, they designed creative inventions, including the imaginative "SharkTube."
• Coral Week brought collaboration to life as every class worked together to create beautiful coral reef murals.
• The excitement continued with High Seas Explorers, featuring a life sized Battleship game complete with enthusiastic cries of "There she blows!"

And what better way to bring ocean learning to life than a field trip to the New England Aquarium, giving young people the chance to experience marine life up close after spending weeks exploring it in their classrooms.

As if that wasn't enough, Peabody's version of The Office Challenge keeps youth on their toes with surprise team challenges. During one visit, participants used water bottles and a handful of simple materials to build mini volcanoes and watch the "magma" flow. Creativity, teamwork, and problem solving were on full display.

Community Art Center
Creativity was in full color during my visit to the Community Art Center. Young people jumped head first into designing their own tie dye shirts, adding their own personalities and artistic flair to every creation. What made the activity even more meaningful was knowing these weren't just art projects. The shirts were created for youth to proudly wear on their field trip the very next day. It was a wonderful example of how OST programs foster autonomy, creativity, and ownership while making everyday experiences even more memorable.

And yes, I couldn't resist joining in! I even had the chance to make a few shirts for my own kids. 

Every visit reinforces what we already know. Cambridge's Out of School Time community is filled with dedicated professionals who create spaces where young people feel inspired to explore, create, lead, and grow. Thank you for the incredible work you do every day. We look forward to visiting more programs throughout the summer and continuing to celebrate the amazing experiences you provide for Cambridge's children, youth, and families.