Pittsburgh Public Schools will begin summer break on Wednesday, June 15! Here is a list of opportunities available for youth in East Liberty and the East End:

Summer Dreamers Academy
The Summer Dreamers Academy is a free summer camp for students in the City of Pittsburgh school system. More info: http://www.pps.k12.pa.us/summercamp

Summer Fun Guide
A chart put together by the Birmingham Foundation shows opportunities for summer focused on the South Pittsburgh, and also includes some city-wide programs. Click here to access!

High School Opportunities
Phipps Conservatory

Phipps is looking for high school students aged 16 or older for their “Learning for a Greener Future” internship program. The internship offers classes, hands-on activities, field trips and work experiences in diverse fields of environmental and plant sciences! For more information, visit the Phipps website, http://phipps.conservatory.org/classes-and-programs/middle-and-high-school/Internships.aspx.

School2Career (s2c)
School2Career is currently recruiting new students! s2c is a year-round program focused on preparing young people to become competent, confident, contributing citizens. The program assists students in making successful career choices. To learn more, visit the s2c website, www.s2c.opdc.org.

Teens at the Library
The Carnegie Library East Liberty branch is offering “All Out Gaming: Teens and Tweens” and “You Art Here: Teen Summer Art Club” on Wednesdays in the summer from 3-5pm.  More info at www.clpgh.org/locations/eastliberty/.

Venture Outdoors: FREE Community Festivals!
Try scaling a climbing wall, paddling a kayak on Lake Elizabeth (located on Northside), using a GPS unit to find secret treasures, or biking around the park.

Venture Outdoors Family and Community Programs will host three FREE Community Festivals on select Saturdays this summer.  Each event will be filled with beginner-friendly activities and will last from 12 Noon to 4 p.m.  Food, dancing and music by Pittsburgh’s favorite DJ Nick Nice will be offered at the event.  Join them for all three festivals or the one in your area:

Saturday, June 25 – Mellon Park
Saturday, July 23 – McKinley Park
Saturday, August 27 – Allegheny Commons

For more information on the Venture Outdoors Festival check out their website at http://www.ventureoutdoors.org/vofest.aspx

Summer Food Service Program
Citiparks offers breakfasts, lunches and snacks to all children up to 18 years old as well as mentally disabled individuals up to 21 years old on weekdays from June 20–August 19, 2011 at approximately 125 sites around the city.  Call 412-244-3911 for specific locations and hours of operation, or visit the Citiparks website.  There is additional information regarding food assistance on the Allegheny County DHS website at http://www.alleghenycounty.us/dhs/food.aspx.

After Foster Care
Family Services of Western Pennsylvania offers a variety of services to youth ages 16-24 who are transitioning out of foster care or have already aged out.  For more info, contact Shayla Sojourner at 412-661-1760 x610 or sojourners@fswp.org.

The Allegheny County Department of Human Services has additional resource guides on their website at http://www.alleghenycounty.us/dhs/guides.aspx.