Summer learning can be a game changer

Written by: Stephanie Freeman, Communications Director at MCCOY, Inc.

Now that spring is officially here (although it doesn’t feel like it yet), the next thing to anticipate for most youth is summer break. As a youth, I dreamt about long summer days, playing with friends, sleeping in, going to camp, and having no homework. However, now we know that “to succeed in school and life, children and young adults need ongoing opportunities to learn and practice essential skills. This is especially true during the summer months” (www.summerlearning.org).

According to the National Summer Learning Association, youth experience learning losses when they do not engage in educational activities during the summer, which leads to lower test scores and decreased graduation rates. Youth also are at risk of rapid weight gain during out-of-school time.

In Indianapolis, we are lucky to have many quality summer programs that combine both fun for youth as well as learning experiences. However, many families are not aware of these organizations and programs. For the past 17 years, MCCOY has produced, printed and made available to the community the Youth Activity Directory (YAD). The YAD is a comprehensive list of youth services that highlights activities such as: summer camps, fun family activities, leadership and volunteer opportunities, and educational/enrichment programs for youth. The 2013 YAD will be available for pick-up on April 8^th. To reserve your copies, fill-out the attached request form and email to Juli.

Make this summer memorable learning experience – and have fun while you’re at it!