Celebrating 2026 Summer Learning Week Across Alaska

National Summer Learning Week, July 6 – 10, 2026, is a nationwide initiative that elevates the importance of keeping kids engaged, safe, and healthy during the summer months. To celebrate, we’ve highlighted some unique and enriching summer learning programs that are available to Alaskan youth!

These five fantastic summer learning programs help hundreds of Alaska children stay safe, engaged, and learning throughout the summer.  They were made possible with funding support from the Camp Initiative, which is a partnership between the Alaska Community Foundation, Rasmuson Foundation, Mat-Su Health Foundation, George & Stephanie Suddock Foundation, and the Walter J. and Ermalee Hickel Alaska Fund.

Even with this generous support, there are still Alaska children waiting to be engaged this summer. According to the Alaska After 3pm Summer report, parents of 49,410 Alaska children want a summer program, but 24,619 children either do not have a program in their community or cannot afford one. That means 1 in 2 Alaska children are missing out. 93% of parents favor public funding for summer learning opportunities. The Alaska Afterschool Network and our partners are committed to advocating for expanded access to summer learning opportunities for all Alaska kids.

ATV Summer Safety Riding Clinic

Rev your engines and hit the trails with Alaska Safe Riders! This summer, Alaska Safe Riders gave youth ages 10 and older the opportunity to venture into the outdoors and learn valuable ATV safety skills through classes at the Jim Creek Recreation Area in Palmer.

Using curriculum from the ATV Safety Institute, youth first completed a 2.5-hour interactive e-Learning course featuring videos, photos, quizzes, and games that introduced ATV safety fundamentals and proper vehicle operation. They then put their knowledge into action during a 4-hour, hands-on riding experience, where they navigated sand, trails, and hills. All the while, learning safe riding techniques and how to respond to real-world situations, such as wildlife encounters.

When riders understand safety rules, responsible riding practices, and the importance of respecting their environment, they can confidently explore Alaska’s outdoors and create memorable experiences riding ATVs.

For more information about Alaska Safe Riders and the safety courses, visit https://alaskasaferiders.org/

Denali Arts Council Youth Camps

Lights, camera, action! Throughout the school year, the Denali Arts Council offers performing arts, theater, choir, orchestra, youth programs, and school art residencies, while summer is dedicated to immersive arts camps that inspire creativity, confidence, and build community.

The Denali Arts Council’s summer camps serve about 200 youth ages 5-17 in the Upper Susitna Valley with several programs. The Summer Stock camp provides opportunities for youth to collaborate on writing and performing musicals based on themes that matter to them. The Green Light Circus teaches youth about circus arts through trapeze, acrobatics, juggling, and more. The Fine Arts Camp brings in professional artists to teach fine art disciplines such as photography, sculpture, filmmaking, and painting.

In a region where children can often feel isolated during the summer months, Denali Arts Council’s summer camps provide an invaluable opportunity for youth to create, perform, and discover the power of the arts 

For more information about the Denali Arts Council and their summer camps, visit https://denaliartscouncil.org/summeryouthprograms/

Fairbanks Children’s Museum Camps

It’s play time all day, every day at the Fairbanks Children's Museum! Camps are hosted by the Museum throughout the year to offer themed learning experiences through play. In the summer, 11 camps are offered with themes varying from week to week. These camps serve to provide a safe, fun and engaging place to play, socialize, and learn when school is out of session. 

From the Artist Studio, Science Lab, and Under the Sea, to Fantasy Improv, Outer Space Odyssey and more, the Museum’s camps provide space for youth to ignite their curiosity, stretch their imagination, and express their creativity!  This year's themes included Passport to Play, where a new country is explored each day of the week, as well as Expedition Alaska, where campers explored the regions of Alaska through hands-on activities.

The Museum has seen many students return each year. This year, they even expanded to allow older youth to return, as those youth still see the Museum as a fun, engaging place to spend their summer. The Museum is often changing themes and activities to ensure new experiences are available each year to new and returning kids. 

More information can be found on their website: https://www.fairbankschildrensmuseum.com/

Camp CRAVE

In the land of the midnight sun, Camp CRAVE, which stands for Culture, Recreation, Active, Values, and Education, hosts healthy lifestyles summer camp programs that bring adventure, learning, and fun together. Held just outside of Nome by the Nome Community Center, the program features three 4-day camp sessions designed to inspire healthy choices and strengthen connections to culture and community for youth ages 7-14.

Every day at Camp CRAVE is a new and different day for youth! Activities vary from hiking, swimming, paddleboarding, and campfire activities, to nutrition, tobacco prevention, mental wellness, and subsistence traditions. Community partners and local experts are often invited to lead activities and lessons for campers as well, providing meaningful opportunities for youth to learn from and collaborate with. Camp concludes with a lively celebration of skits, songs, and a slideshow in front of families, showcasing the campers’ creativity, growth, and all that they’ve learned at camp!

Camp CRAVE helps youth build confidence, make positive lifestyle choices, strengthen friendships, and create lasting memories filled with learning and adventure.

For more information about Camp CRAVE, visit https://www.nomecc.org/camp-crave.html

Yakutat Surf Club

Surf’s up! With frigid 40℉ waters and 17,000-ft mountains and glistening glaciers nearby, understanding the how to enjoy and stay safe in the ocean is critically important for youth living in the coastal fishing community of Yakutat. The Yakutat Surf Club program teaches youth how to safely enjoy and navigate coastal environments while promoting healthy and active lifestyles and fostering a lifelong connection to the ocean and their community.

What started as a one-time event in 2019 to share a passion for surfing and has now flourished into an annual summer camp opportunity for local youth. The Yakutat Surf Club serves approximately 25 youth in grades K-12 during the summer, with scheduling often dependent on weather and wave conditions.

Youth begin the day learning how to read tides, currents, wave conditions, buoys, and weather forecasting apps. They then spend time in the water learning surfing techniques. During lunch, they listen to local Tlingit community members who come to share stories and songs that connect the land, sea, and sun. To close out each day, youth spend time cleaning up the beaches, learning the importance of land stewardship.

By investing in local youth, the program helps ensure that knowledge, skills, and traditions remain rooted in the community, and that the youth gain a stronger understanding of the responsibility they share in protecting its natural resources and cultural heritage.