The EHTP participants engage in a variety of inter-related activities, all of which are focused on literacy and operate within a youth development framework. These activities include:
Homework Help: This service is available daily for all participants, K-12, over-aged and under-credited participants.
Small-group Study with Academic Specialists: Our certified teachers provide targeted support in reading, writing, math, science and global studies. We also provide remedial work for those who have begun college in the area and have requested our help.
Arts and Culture Activities: These comprise dance, drama and poetry, photography, video/filmmaking and music recording. Middle- and high-school participants are recruited by FUEGO en la 106, our resident dance company, where they discover the world of dancing while learning about different cultures, the rigors of performing, teamwork and self-discipline.
Creative Writing and Reading: By keeping weekly journals, participating in book clubs, engaging in scriptwriting and carrying out interviews, among other things, participants can learn new and interesting ways to express themselves on the page.
Technology Access and Education: These activities promote computer, web-design and networking skills as well as general computer literacy.
Science and Innovation: Featuring our award-winning FIRST Robotics Team (which, despite being East Harlem’s first robotics team ever, managed to beat proven powerhouses like Stuyvesant HS and Bronx HS of Science to Nationals) and its middle school component, Lego Robotics. We are pleased to have just been included in the InvenTeam competition out of MIT.
College and Career Preparation: We offer test prep, college tours, career exploration, SAT prep and Regents prep.
Youth Development Activities: These provide young participants with much needed skills in conflict resolution, community activism, volunteering, youth governance, teamwork, time management and decision making.
One-to-One Tutoring: Personalized tutoring remains a mainstay of our programming with weekly sessions, 11/2 hours per week.
Recreation and Sports: These activities include basketball, table tennis and supervised park visits.
Family Literacy Programming: Springing from a direct need voiced by the parents themselves, this service began this year with our first-ever ESL classes. We were thrilled to have advanced 26 parents from the first session.
Summer Camp: Our Summer Camp takes place during the months of July and August. It lasts six weeks and totals 175 participants. The EHTP’s Summer Camp operates as an exciting arts-based, literacy-infused learning experience for children ranging from 5 to 12 years old, seeking to ensure that gains made during the year are not lost.
Drop Trax: This service is aimed at young people who are on the verge of dropping out of high school, either because they are over-aged, under-credited, or just frustrated with the system. The program engages them in developing skills to produce, record and market their music. Thus, they receive life skills that will make it easier for them to set realistic goals and identify appropriate career options.
University Program: EHTP's University Program offers high-school students the opportunity to work with licensed teachers so that they can prepare for Regent exams and improve their chances to accumulate credits. Working hand in hand with staff members, they will identify college or career options and fulfill the necessary requirements to become competitive applicants for their school or career of choice. EHTP-UP also provides an off-site “boot camp” for 30 rising high-school freshmen and sophomores.
