Shades of Development

As another incredible summer comes to a close, we’re filled with gratitude for our amazing site directors who made this season so special for the children and families we serve. Their leadership, dedication, and countless behind-the-scenes efforts created safe, fun, and enriching environments where kids could learn, grow, and make lifelong memories.

Today, our directors came together for a leadership retreat to celebrate a successful summer and begin preparing for the upcoming school year. We collaborated, shared ideas, and planned intentionally to ensure a smooth transition into our after-school programs for our staff, students, and families.

We also took time to enjoy some fun team-building games and laughter-filled breaks, strengthening the relationships that help us work together so effectively. After all, the best teams are built not only through planning, but through connection, trust, and a shared passion for serving others.

To our directors—thank you for your servant hearts, unwavering commitment, and the incredible impact you make every single day. We are grateful for each of you and can’t wait to see all that this new school year will bring! 💚

🦖 Meet one of our Junior Paleontologists!

This week at SHADES, our explorers are digging into all things dinosaurs with hands-on activities, fossil discoveries, and prehistoric adventures. It's going to be a ROAR-some week of learning and fun! 🌿🦴🦕

🌟 NOW HIRING! 🌟

Join the SHADES of Development Afterschool Program and make a difference in the lives of students every day!

We're currently hiring part-time team members who are passionate about working with youth in a fun, positive, and supportive environment.

✨ Why join us?
✅ Part-time positions available
✅ No nights or weekends
✅ Rewarding work with children and teens
✅ Great opportunity for students, retirees, and anyone looking for flexible afternoon hours

If you're dependable, energetic, and enjoy helping young people learn and grow, we'd love to hear from you!

📩 Apply today on Indeed or email you resume and letter of interest to [email protected]

🍦☀️ Sweet summer fun at Shades of Development! ☀️🍦

When the summer sun is shining bright, sometimes the next best thing to eating ice cream is creating your own! 🎨✨ Our campers had a blast crafting colorful paper ice cream cones, using their creativity and imagination to design the sweetest treats around.

As they glued, colored, and decorated their masterpieces, there was plenty of talk about everyone's favorite ice cream flavors—and lots of dreaming about enjoying the real thing on these hot summer days! 🍨💕

We love activities that spark creativity, encourage conversation, and bring smiles to every camper's face. After all, summer is all about making sweet memories! 💚

🌟 Celebrating Our Leaders in Training (LITs)! 🌟

At Shades of Development, we couldn't be more proud of our amazing Leaders in Training! These outstanding older campers are stepping up to become positive role models for our younger campers, leading with kindness, patience, responsibility, and enthusiasm every single day.

Our LIT program is about so much more than lending a helping hand—it's about building confidence, developing leadership skills, and preparing our youth for future success. By giving our older campers meaningful responsibilities, they learn the value of teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and leading by example. These are skills that will benefit them not only at camp but throughout school, future careers, and life.

Our younger campers look up to their LITs, and it's inspiring to watch the friendships and connections they build. Seeing our older campers encourage, mentor, and support the next generation reminds us why this program is such an important part of the Shades of Development family.

To our LITs: Thank you for your hard work, your positive attitudes, and for showing what true leadership looks like. You are making a difference every day, and we are so proud of each and every one of you! 💚

☀️💦 Beating the heat, one splash at a time!

Our campers at Shades of Development are making the most of these hot summer days by staying cool with plenty of water play! From splash-filled games to exciting outdoor activities, there's no better way to enjoy summer while making memories with friends.

Water play isn't just fun—it also helps keep our campers active, refreshed, and smiling all day long! 😎🌊

Here's to sunshine, laughter, and lots of splashes as we make this summer one to remember! ☀️💧