Did you know that more than 50 percent of the children in Central Florida are not entering kindergarten with the skills they need to succeed? And if they start behind, they stay behind.

The foundation for a low-income child’s academic life is built on skills that are often one to three years behind the performance of their middle-income peers.

Helping young children to enter school ready to read is the most effective and efficient way to improve academic success and, ultimately, high school graduation rates.

United Way of Central Florida invests in services like Camp READY!, a program of Learning Resource Center. The program builds pre-reading skills while also providing a safety net to allow children more time to continue motor, social and cognitive development.

Fun activities will help your future scholar learn movement, reading, art and more throughout the month of July. On average, Camp READY! students demonstrate the growth of seven months from pre- to post-assessment.

Locations include:

• Lakeland North: Family Fundamentals, 1021 Lakeland Hills Blvd.
• Lakeland South: St. David’s Episcopal Church, 145 E. Edgewood Dr.
• Winter Haven: Public Education Partnership (PEP) Center, 203 Ave. R NE

Classes are $25 and scholarships are available.

For more information or to sign up for Camp READY!, please visit LRCPolk.com or dial 863-688-9477.