Looking for summer activities for the children and teens in your life?
The programs listed below offer a wide range of opportunities for youth ages six to 18 in Nashville. The organizations offering these opportunities received funding from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
The CDBG program is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and MDHA administers the program on behalf of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. A portion of these funds are awarded annually to eligible nonprofits and public agencies to operate enrichment programs during the summer months for youths ages six to 18 within Nashville and Davidson County. Each summer, nearly 1,500 children and teens participate in these programs. More information about the organizations and their programs can be found below.
Click or tap on any box below to be taken to that organization’s website.
An eight-week program etiquette training program for at-risk kids in North and East Nashville. It provides a safe and enjoyable environment for them to learn and grow with a diverse curriculum that enhances their academic, social, physical and professional growth.
The Leadership Academy is an eight-week program to prevent the decline of summer education. Students will engage in activities related to science, technology, engineering, math, language, arts and sports/fitness. Additionally, they will be taken on weekly college tours and field trips.
The NICE Summer program will focus on increasing English literacy and social-emotional learning skills for sixth through eighth grade refugee and immigrant youth. All school-aged participants will receive academic, social-emotional and literacy-building activities.
The Nations Ministry Summer Work Program is designed to empower refugee and immigrant youth by equipping them with practical life skills, building leadership abilities and improving employability through experiential, hands-on learning and on-the-job training. This structured program will focus on two primary work project tracks: gardening and cooking and technology skill development.
The K.R.I.S. Foundation is a seven-week Bridge 2 Babysitters (B2B) Summer Cohort focused on workforce development, community service and the childcare career pipeline. Youth work in teams of eight to 10 with daily supervision, combining job skills, leadership training and hands-on work.
Pathways Kitchen’s progressive workforce development program is designed to advance Positive Youth Development (PYD) principles while building both job readiness and healthy lifestyle habits for youth involved in the juvenile justice system. The program follows the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) Restaurant Ready curriculum, providing each participant with at least 50 hours of paid culinary training paired with social-emotional learning.
Water Walkers operates a comprehensive summer enrichment program grounded in five pillars of programming: education, outdoor adventure, wellness, basic needs and leadership. The activities promote healthy lifestyles, self-regulation skills and job readiness competencies such as time management, adaptability and collaboration.
Summer Days Camp is an eight-week program focusing on group activities and sports-based camps for our students. Each summer, the team collaborates with interns and volunteers to design activities that promote relationship-building—among attendees and youth and their mentors—and foster meaningful participation across all age groups.
