Skip to main content

MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Liberty Partnerships Program Summer Program Recap


Summer 2015 was a season of exploration, enrichment, and endurance for the Liberty Partnerships Program (LPP) summer program students and staff. Students came to the Damon City Campus for morning academic enrichment in English, math and science. The lessons provided background information for our students which prepared them for our field trips, college tours, and workshops, many of which were presented by community members right here in Rochester. Students had an interactive tour of the MCC Applied Technologies Center where they learned how to do pipe fitting, auto mechanics, and precision machining. We also took trips to the Monroe County Forensics Lab, the Seneca Park Zoo, and participated in an etiquette class at The Refinement Studio with Miss Cynthia Ely.

Many of the highlights of our program came from our out of town trips which ranged from The Aquarium of Niagara and the Buffalo Naval Museum to the Corning Museum of Glass, and places in between! At LPP, college is our main goal, so this summer we visited both SUNY Geneseo and Genesee Community College. The students toured classrooms and dorms, ate in the student dining halls, and walked the full length of each campus. Many of our students shared interest in attending these schools in the future.

There were a number of opportunities that allowed our students to explore what the great outdoors of Western New York has to offer. We visited both Stonybrook and Letchworth state parks, giving the students time to discover the trails around the parks with the science and math tutors leading engaging tours. An additional noteworthy trip was to Springdale farms, where our students got to see the farm animals in their daily routines on the farm and even had the chance to pet a few goats and sheep! While a few were leery at first, many reflected that this was the one trip which made them leave their comfort zone.

During one of the final days of the program LPP students had a chance to shine when we worked with students in grades 1-6 at MCC’s Horizons Summer Program. Working with different themes for each grade level, LPP staff and students developed literacy-based lesson plans and related activities. For example, the 4th grade students spent their summer learning about what it would be like “If I were an astronaut…” The LPP students who worked in the 4th grade room helped the Horizons youth design their own planets, and discuss the climates, terrain, and resources available in the new worlds. They even created their own flags and systems of government.

Our students have just returned to school and tutoring will begin shortly, but the LPP staff is already excited about planning the program for next year. If you have any suggestions for our 2016 summer program, please feel free to contact Elizabeth Appel at extension 1691!

MCC’s Liberty Partnerships Program is funded by the New York State Department of Education.

Elizabeth Appel
Liberty Partnerships Program - Education
10/23/2015