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 ROTARY HAMILTON GOES TO CAMP!The Rotary Club of Hamilton hosted the 21st annual Rotary Summer Literacy Program. This year's program, much like last summer's, was changed to meet the COVID-19 safety requirements and to make sure the children, youth leaders and Rotarians all stay safe. | ||
The Rotary Club of Hamilton has offered a free camp style literacy program for children for the past 21 years. Usually over 800 children attend the 2-week program. The program encourages and helps 
children to maintain their reading levels during the summer months.
children to maintain their reading levels during the summer months.During the pandemic, the program was changed to offer 1 week of leadership training (Leaders in Action) and then 2 weeks of programing for 100 children in cohorts. The Rotary Summer Literacy Program operated outdoors in a park. The program operated for one week at TB McQueston Park on the Mountain and the following week at Woodlands Park in the Wever Community.
Each cohort of children had 3 Leaders In Action Counsellors and held programing under a tent. Each day Rotarians visited the program and helped welcoming families and children, conducting screening and hand sanitation and then participated in the sing-a-long and read-outload.
The weather was hot, but the children enjoyed the experience of the Rotary Summer literacy Program. Each child received a new book, school supplies and a back-pack, getting them ready for back to in school in September.
A great signature program of the Rotary Club of Hamilton that was pivoted during the pandemic. An engaged and active membership made sure that the children would receive this educational experience in a safe way! 
ROTARY @ SUNRISE MEETING
The Rotary Club of Hamilton usually holds its meetings at Noon. On August 26th, they held their first Rotary @ Sunrise meeting. Rotary is not cancelled; it’s just different. This was the first in-person meeting since March 2020!
As part of their Rotary Re-Opens Plan, the Club held an in-person meeting outdoors and visited their Rotary Summer Literacy Program. It was a great opportunity to hold an in-person meeting safely outdoors, while encouraging members to be Rotarian of the Day at the Rotary Summer Literacy Program. The Rotary @ Sunrise meeting allowed an opportunity for networking and fellowship safely, and then Rotarians and Friends of Rotary members participated in the read-a-loud and start of the literacy program.