Noah's Ark

OUR STORY

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In the Spring of 2006, Pastor Jonathan Whitfield approached Antoinette Walker, a parishioner of the Trinity Baptist Church, about beginning a summer program that would not only provide childcare and entertainment for students within the age range of 4-13, but would also provide educational enrichment. On July 3, 2006, the Trinity Baptist Church Summer Development Program began, and during that summer, the SDP provided educational enrichment, provided by New Jersey State Certified instructors, and other extracurricular entertainment to approximately twenty-five Hackensack-area children.

In July of 2008, after two years of successful operation, the-then Trinity Baptist Church Summer Development Program, under the auspices of the Tri-Arc Development Corporation and HOPE for Ex-Offenders, Inc., became a New Jersey State Certified Summer Program, and was then renamed the Tri-Arc Summer Development Program.  

In 2015, as the SDP moved forward, it became Antoinette's desire to create a new

501(c)(3) corporation under the name of Noah's Ark Summer Development Program, and on June 29, 2015, this new name debuted, along with its new governing board of directors, but still with Antoinette at the helm.

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Now, preparing for its sixteenth season, the Noah's Ark SDP continues to value the education of today’s youth, as well as the child as a whole. Not only are the children provided continuing education by New Jersey State certified teachers and paraprofessionals, but they are also engaged in various activities that will enhance Historical knowledge, create camaraderie with other children within the same age range, and the physical person is also fed by the breakfast and lunch programs that have been implemented based on the New Jersey State Food and Drug Association regulations. We continue to service all people of the community, and even welcome those that are recipients of governmental assistance including, but not limited to, Bergen County Office for Children, Division of Youth and Family Services, and New Jersey Social Services. We strive to be a well-rounded organization, and continuously strive to educate and develop and satisfy the needs of all children.