Weekly Media Roundup: July 17, 2024

The Dog Days of Summer Drag. Summer Learning Programs Can Help, The Journal (Colorado)

To celebrate National Summer Learning Week, 360 students across nine Colorado counties wrote postcards to their state lawmakers about why they love their summer learning programs. “I think summer camp is important because my parents still have to work. I like summer camp because I get to make new friends,” one 7-year-old wrote. But advocates at the Colorado Afterschool Partnership note the need for expanded access is clear – for example, at one summer program in Mancos, registration filled up in just 64 minutes.

What’s Right With Schools: Summer Program at Collinsville Canoe & Kayak Gets Kids Learning on the Water, WTNH (Connecticut)

In Collinsville, Connecticut, students are learning life-saving water skills and exploring local ecosystems while also participating in water sports at Collinsville Canoe & Kayak’s summer educational program. “They come out here and learn how to kayak, canoe, paddleboard, we play games, we explore the Farmington River. It’s just a great way to get kids outside, get them moving, learn about the river and the area around them,” program leader Ben Fabian told WTNH. The program emphases the importance of social skills and learning outside the classroom.

‘No Sad Tears Today’, Columbia Basin Herald (Washington)

This summer, the Boys & Girls Club of the Columbia Basin’s afterschool program in Moses Lake, Washington faced a $170,000 shortfall due to budget cuts at the school district. “Two months ago, I was crying on the phone and it was like tears of devastation, because we thought, what are we going to do?,” Club Director Kim Pope told the Columbia Basin Herald. “You think, if the kids can’t come into our club, where are they going to go out here at Larson housing? It scared me. We cannot let this go.” Last week, battery manufacturer Group14 and the company’s local construction partners teamed up to present the Club with a $175,000 donation to keep the program operating through the end of the year and ensure students have a safe, enriching place to go after school. “It’s happy tears,” Pope told a student. “No sad tears today.”

Program at LSUS Encourages Middle-School Students to Dream Big, Set Goals, KTAL (Louisiana)

For over 30 years, Louisiana State University Shreveport has hosted LaPrep, a free summer learning program for middle school students focusing on STEM (science, technology, mathematics, and engineering) education and careers. The program includes cyber security, coding, immunology, leadership skills, and much more. “This program has given me the confidence to apply for higher education,” Jaiden Harris, a LaPrep participant, told KTAL. “I always thought I’d work at McDonald’s. After completing my first year at LaPrep… I want to become an engineer or dermatologist.”