PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and fellow city leaders shared a host of new summer programs for kids and teens designed to keep the city's youth safe.
The campaign - dubbed #ItsASummerThing after the Eagles playoff motto - includes summer camps and summer jobs that will pay kids as young as 12. "Last year, especially in neighborhoods that are struggling with various issues, the kids really seem to respond to it, enjoy it and felt as if we cared about them and we cared about their neighborhood and we cared about their families," Kenney said during Tuesday's press conference.
While the city is bringing back several successful programs, there are also new features in the 2023 slate of programs. This year, every summer camp in Philadelphia will have extended care until 6 p.m.
and for the first time lifeguards will receive bonuses. "We're at four times with lifeguards than what we were this time last year, so we've seen a great uptick," Deputy Commissioner Bill Salvatore said.