Phila.Gov | Let's Read. Let's Move. Philadelphia

Let's Read. Let's Move. Philadelphia.

Join Philadelphians in stepping up to the Corporation for National and Community Service’s Summer of Service Challenge!

Let's Read. Let's Move. Philadelphia. will engage citizens of all ages in volunteer opportunities designed to ensure that our young people read, exercise and eat healthy food this summer.

Let's Read. Let's Move.

Philadelphia.
Help Kids

Exercise
Help Kids

Eat Healthy
Help Kids

Read!

The Corporation for National and Community Service, in collaboration with First Lady Michelle Obama and five federal agencies - U.S. Department of Education, Department of Interior, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Agriculture, and Institute of Museums and Libraries - has issued a Summer of Service Challenge

Did you know?
Youth need 60 minutes of active play time each day.

Obesity among children and adolescents increases during the summer months and may lead to heart disease, type two diabetes and other health problems.

Regular exercise provides multiple benefits for youth. Youth who engage in 30 - 60 minutes a day of sustained physical activity can reduce their risk of heart disease by 35% to 55%, achieve higher test scores on standardize state exams, build self-confidence, develop a positive body image and improve interpersonal skills, especially while playing team sports.

Get involved. Organize a summer exercise opportunity in your neighborhood. To get started, check out the toolkits developed by the Corporation for National and Community Service. Help make physical fitness a priority for Philadelphia youth.

Did you know?
Nearly 19 million children in the United States depend on free and reduced-price school meals for nine months out of the year; only 2.3 million children participate in the Summer Food Service Program.

1 in 5 children in the US are overweight and obesity rates tend to go up among children during the summer months.

Healthy eating improves a child’s immune system, boosts energy levels and reduces stress.

Get involved. To get started, check out the toolkits developed by the Corporation for National and Community Service. Together, we can help provide young people access to healthy, affordable food and create a healthier generation of young people in Philadelphia.

Did you know?
Reading 5 books over the summer prevents learning loss.

Young people can lose 2-3 months of progress in reading achievement over the summer.

Kids engaged in summer reading activities are better prepared for the new academic year, show improvement in spelling, writing style, vocabulary and grammatical development. Reading also offers opportunities to discover books that are not associated with classroom lessons, allowing kids to expand their horizons and discover new story genres.

Get involved. Plan a trip to your local library with the young people in your neighborhood. To get started, check out the toolkits developed by the Corporation for National and Community Service. By promoting summer reading, you can play a role in expanding young people's horizons and preparing them for the next grade level.