The best part of NYSP is that it beats the boredom that comes with summer. By keeping the kids involved, the program keeps them off the street, Maneval said. It's fun and educational, and it keeps you from having to just sit around the house all summer. Each afternoon, the participants all have an education period, when they learn about drug prevention, self-worth and career development. This year, the program also includes a math and science component, which takes a fun approach to learning.
Nobody wants to listen to a lecture during the summer.
Because of the approach, Bennett and his assistant, USM student Shannon Donald, have been imaginative. They've used a scavenger hunt to instill math principles and science lessons have involved blind taste comparisons of colas and cereals. The class is where Fortner got her ice cream recipe. It not much like classwork when you learn about the five senses by doing taste tests. The other enrichment classes also maintain a busy, upbeat approach to the classroom.