It was a summer filled with exciting adventures and new friendships for our Great Minds students, as they embarked on exploring the world of sports. The six-week summer program, ‘Exploring the Wide World of Sports,’ offered a diverse range of activities that challenged the students physically and also enriched their understanding of sports history and culture. Our talented coaches Adam Rodney, Dwight Smith, and Shomari Moore returned to the program to teach fencing, and the students took up the hot sport of pickleball at the Highbridge Recreation Center.  Our students continued to step outside their comfort zones with these activities along with their bike riding lessons, mastering balance and controlling the new bikes they received from a generous donation by Bloomberg Philanthropies.  On the academic side, the group visited numerous museums, along with Yankee Stadium and Madison Square Garden to learn about the rich history and cultural significance of NYC’s sports, while gaining a deeper appreciation of what goes into creating successful careers as athletes and the businesses that surround them.  Finally, the students visited book stores and chose their own books to keep their minds flexible outside of their school classes. The memories and new friendships forged during the summer program will last into the school year and beyond!