Dancing to His Own Beat: A Summer Camp Scholarship Success Story

As Public Housing Management Specialist I Sydney took her seat in a large theater filled with eager loved ones, the lights dimmed and music started to play.

The theatre event she was attending was a performance put on by campers of the Anchorage-based Music and Dance Machine summer camp – one of several programs that Sydney connects kids to through AHFC’s Youth Summer Camp and Activity Scholarship. 

About the Youth Summer Camp and Activity scholarship

AHFC awards families up to $500 per scholarship to cover fees and supplies such as jerseys and uniforms. As a management specialist at the Anchorage Family Investment Center, one of Sydney’s duties is to connect with summer camps to distribute scholarship funds on behalf of public housing families.

“Summer camps are really expensive and parents don’t always have that extra money, especially for families with multiple siblings. Being able to help three siblings per household is really great. The kids don’t all have to do the same thing, they can have different choices and really go with what they like.”

Building partnerships with camps has been key to her work, with many camps returning to accept AHFC scholarship funds year after year.

Sydney was invited to this summer’s performance by the director of the camp. “The show was really cute,” she shared. “To see the summer camp firsthand was amazing.”

Peering behind the curtain

Before the show started, a mother of one of the performers and AHFC Jumpstart Tenant—Crystal, peered behind the curtain and saw her six-year-old son warming up with some older children in the green room.

“Oh this is a big thing for him,” said Crystal. “He kept telling me ‘I know my part, I know what to do’ he waited until the night of the performance to show anyone what he was doing.”

Only a few weeks earlier, Crystal’s son attended a one-day dance camp at West High. This experience planted the seed for his budding love of performance. In Crystal’s words, “It turned into a thing.” Crystal took to Google to search for similar summertime opportunities, which is how she learned about the Music and Dance Machine.

Around the same time, Crystal spoke with Jumpstart Case Manager Michael and applied for the summer camp scholarship. “Everything just kind of lined up for him to go,” she said.

Shining their unique light

For six weeks, Crystal’s son worked hard memorizing choreography and lyrics for half a dozen songs. “He enjoyed the music and singing part more than the dance part. That’s because he wanted to dance his way, not what they wanted,” Crystal said with a laugh.

Crystal says that camp allowed her the opportunity to work while knowing her son was developing his talents in a safe and fun environment. “It helped enhance his time and grow his interest.”

To Sydney, programs like the Youth Summer Camp and Activity Scholarship connect closely with AHFC’s mission of providing quality housing.

“Quality of life includes housing of course, but also enjoyment for our families,” Sydney said. “It adds to the normalcy of life for kids and they get to partake in quality summer camps too. Having the scholarship gives kids the opportunity to actually get to choose and have some autonomy.”

Crystal commented on her son’s growth throughout the summer, “He is a bit more confident. It was really awesome to see him light up on stage.”

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Learn more about AHFC's Youth Summer Camp & Activity Scholarship.