Students were able to reflect on their Summer Mosaic experience by answering a few questions…all in all it was a great summer!

1. What is one thing you learned in Summer Mosaic that you didn’t know before?

I learned a bunch of new stuff about Korea like the languages they speak and who lives there…things like that.

2. What did you enjoy most about Summer Mosaic? Why?

I enjoyed all the fun things we did.  For example, after the trip to UMD, we went to Rita’s to get realllyyy good frozen ice.  And also the paint war..That was probably the BEST part of camp.  It was super duper fun (:

3. What is something you will always remember about Summer Mosaic?

I will alwaysss remember all the fun things we did and how close we, who were mostly strangers to each other, got. I think that was the most memorable part. Making a bunchh of GREAT people.

- Maris 7th grade

1. What is one thing you learned in Summer Mosaic that you didn’t know before?

Its harder to get into North Korea then Cuba . o.o

2. What did you enjoy most about Summer Mosaic? Why?

Everything , I guess . SUSHI ! D [Cause I actually got to taste what I made]
Paint War(: [The park was fun and answering the questions were pretty fun]
Oh and Six Flags . [The rides were AWESOME!]
Everything was superr fun to be honest . xD

3. What is something you will always remember about Summer Mosaic?

The friends I made(:
And how muchoo fun we had this summer .
BEST summer ever ! ^.^

- Danyelle 6th grader

1. What is one thing you learned in Summer Mosaic that you didn’t know before?

That 200 potatoes has enough power to make a cell phone work

2. What did you enjoy most about Summer Mosaic? Why?

We got to do fun activities like going to Theodore Roosevelt Island and Swimming and meeting new people making friends

3. What is something you will always remember about Summer Mosaic?

My friends I made

- Anthony rising 9th grader

Coming to DC was a complete change, but being a part of AALEAD for the summer was beyond anything imaginable. AALEAD welcomed me to their team with open arms and a loving environment. I’ve never interned at a better more passionate place than AALEAD. I’m so glad to have met and worked with such an amazing team. Even though the commute was really far and expensive, after meeting and seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces, the train fares were all worth it. I enjoyed all the little workshops and activities with the students the most. Just their curious, cheerful personalities brought the child out in me and remind me of why AALEAD can do what they are doing today. After interning with AALEAD, I am now looking forward to working with other nonprofits in the near future with hopes that they will have a high level of passion like AALEAD.

This summer the Maryland AALEAD Middle School students participated in the annual AALEAD summer program.  This year was called Summer Mosaic to represent the diversity in our student ethnic backgrounds, but also the unique personalitlies they all possess and how as a unit we make up a great, more beautiful picture.

Through the month of July, the students participated in several projects, activities, guest speakers, and fun!  We focused on “Going Green” and expression through art.  Below are pictures of all the different things we were able to do.  Thanks to all the guest speakers and volunteers that came out, the students (you guys made this summer a blast!), the parents who picked up and dropped off their children, and especially Alex from the Wheaton Community Center who allowed the space for our camp.  Thank you all and enjoy as we look back at our summer.

“About Me” students practiced their public speaking skills by presenting their own powerpoint presentation about themselves

Bristlebots! Thanks to our wonderful volunteer James, each student made their own robot made out of recycled toothbrushes and pager motors to create a racing bot

Students researched their own country and created their own tourism videos…on our AALEAD stars! Check out their video by clicking on the link

Tourism of Thailand

Going Green, the students created a compost bin and planted gardens, while also learning about alternative power sources like a potato battery

A visit to H mart to learn about different types of food, and participating in an iron chef competition based on the country they researched…YUM!

IT…that’s what we called the animal we created while also learning about Japanese Mon (emblem), Thank you to our creative volunteer Madeline

Paint War!!!  We are looking very colorful

Learning about Japanese culture was fun, and making the sushi.  But the best part was eating it

1st ride on the metro, visiting the Smithsonian, and having fun with the scavenger hunt…priceless

Making the Wheaton Rec Center pretty, we picked up garbage and weeded the area

Six Flags…need I say more?!?

Theodore Roosevelt Island clean up and learning about the history. Thank you Ranger Victoria!

How much does textbooks costs!?! Students got a special tour of the University of Maryland, learned of student life, and bowling

Summer was hot!!! Swimming was a good idea

ADHD, ADD, Autism, dyslexia…we learned about disabilities.  Thank you Dorothy for speaking to us

Summer was just way too much fun!