Summer programs go beyond enrichment opportunities; for many families, they are essential childcare.

When Gunnison Watershed School District announced last year it would not run its Summer Experience Programs, a group of youth-serving organizations mobilized quickly, supported by MetRec grants that helped ensure kids across the valley still had safe, healthy places to go during the summer months.

The grant funds were used primarily to create a universal summer scholarship program, coordinated through the Gunnison County Substance Abuse Prevention Project (GCSAPP) and the Gunnison Hinsdale Early Childhood Council (EEC). The goal was ambitious: make summer programming accessible to all families, regardless of income.

“Historically, the schools had been able to provide really awesome summer programming for free,” said GCSAPP Program Manager Emily Mirza. “When that couldn’t happen last year, we convened a group of youth-serving organizations to build capacity so more kids had a place to go and be safe in the summer.”

Mirza, who has been involved with GCSAPP for more than a decade, emphasized cost is a major barrier for families seeking summer programming and childcare.

“We created the scholarship because summer programming’s expensive. I mean, you’re talking $3,000 plus per individual kid,” she said. “The idea was to have scholarships that could help families put their kids into summer programs within our valley—programs that offer not only childcare, but healthy opportunities for kids to learn and grow and become better humans.”

The universal summer scholarship program from GCSAPP served fifth- through twelfth-grade students with a $10,000 MetRec grant while a separate $10,000 grant to the EEC served kindergarten through fourth graders. In total, approximately 120 children from around 75 families received scholarships, with priority given to families accessing SNAP benefits or other support services.

“We just kind of jumped in and started brainstorming ways we could support,” ECC Early Childhood Service Supervisor Lana Athey said. “It was cool to see the community come together. As soon as I reached out to everybody, they were ready to make something happen, coordinate schedules for programming and get it to work. It was really a joint effort for all.”

To get the word out, the group hosted a community night at Gunnison Middle School where families could meet program providers, learn about options and apply for scholarships. Despite a snowy evening, the event drew a large turnout.

“We thought no one would come,” Mirza said. “And sure enough, it was so busy—because there was clearly a need.”

Families were able to use scholarships at a wide range of programs, like Mountain Roots, Gunnison Recreation Center, Junior Mountaineer Camp, Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, DEVO, and volleyball and soccer camps. Scholarship funds were distributed through discount codes and reimbursements, allowing families to enroll directly with providers.

For Mirza, some of the most meaningful moments came through direct outreach.

“It’s always a feel-good moment when you make the phone call saying, ‘You guys got a scholarship for summer programming. Have you enrolled? Can we help make sure you’ve been enrolled?’” she said.

GCSAPP Prevention Programs Coordinator Jordan Selk Johnson echoed the sentiment, noting how powerful it was to see children experience new activities.

“Some kids had never been on a paddleboard before,” Johnson said, “or hiking up near CB South, scrambling on rocks—kids are like, ‘Look what I’m doing!’ It’s such a confidence builder.”

Community response to the MetRec grant was overwhelmingly positive. “When people found out MetRec gave $20,000 for scholarships, there were goosebumps,” Mirza said. “The response was so fast. The community identified a need, and then it happened. All these kids got support to attend summer programming. That was huge.”

As organizers streamline and relaunch the scholarship program, one thing is clear: the collaboration did more than fill a gap. It strengthened a network committed to keeping Gunnison County’s kids safe, supported and engaged all summer long.