National Summer Learning Week, July 10-14, 2023, is a celebration dedicated to elevating the importance of keeping kids learning, safe, and healthy every summer. Summer learning programs such as summer camps, culture camps, libraries, and teen centers provide caring adults and structured learning environments, ensuring students return to school ready to succeed during the year. Throughout Alaska, youth are participating in dynamic, meaningful, and empowering summer learning opportunities. To celebrate this week, we are highlighting a few out-of-school time programs and, for the first time, Summer Learning Week mini-grant recipients!
Summer Learning Week Mini-Grant Recipients
This year, Alaska Afterschool Network offered $500 mini grants to organizations to host a Summer Learning Week event in their community. These mini grants were geared to raising local policymakers’ awareness of the importance of summer learning programs. This year’s mini-grant recipients hosted learning celebrations, culture camps, STEM camps, and much more!
Congratulations to all the mini-grant awardees!
Alaska Aviation Museum – Anchorage, AK
Bethel 4-H – Bethel, AK
Eaglecrest Foundation – Juneau, AK
Fairbanks 21st Century Community Learning Center – Fairbanks, AK
Girl Scouts of Alaska – Anchorage, AK
Hillcrest Children's Center, Inc – Anchorage, AK
Hmoob Cultural Center of Alaska – Anchorage, AK
RALLY – Juneau, AK
RurAL CAP RAY AmeriCorps – New Stuyahok, AK
Kinder Skog Nature Program
The Kinder Skog Nature Program serves children ages 4 to 14 in a year-round outdoor program which utilizes the beautiful Mitkof Island as their classroom. Kinder Skog provides a brave and supported space for kids to just be kids, with approximately 100 participants served during the summer months. Each day mentors adventure alongside youth participants to explore muskegs, forests, hike mountains, and witness the power of the glaciers. Through the Skog + STEM initiative, participants are connected to local STEM experts such as the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, US Forest Service, Alaska Marine Mammal Advisory and others to experience hands-on science while building positive relationships with experts in various scientific fields. Kinder Skog promotes mental wellbeing through nature connection, mindfulness, and healthy activities such as fishing, hiking, arts, and playfulness.
"Skoggies" are always up for an adventure. These kids prove that everyday has the potential to be the best day ever."
For more information about Kinder Skog Nature Program please visit: https://www.pmcak.org/kinder-skog-youth-program.html or on Instagram at @kinderskog.
CHILL Time, Project GRAD Kenai Peninsula
Creating Healthy Inclusive Learning Lifestyles (CHILL), is all about sharing the excitement of the world with energetic kids so that they can ask questions, seek answers, amplify their understanding, and connect authentically with adults. Academic coaches develop intriguing lessons in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM), share mindfulness strategies for managing frustrations and challenging emotions, play and exercise, and share a nutritious snack. Influenced by a successful and popular model used in Iceland to diminish a disturbing rate of substance misuse, PGKP developed a program whereby youth can participate in organized activities, build their protective factors, and become empowered to dismiss some of the dangerous temptations so plentiful in our world.
To learn more about CHILL Time visit: https://www.projectgradkenai.org/
bristol Bay 4-H
Bristol Bay 4-H provides youth activities to the Bristol Bay Region, an area the size of Ohio. Programs are offered in groups, individually or through mail out kits. Afterschool programs, community events and summer culture camps engage youth and the communities in Bristol Bay year-round. Annual events such as Children’s Fairs, Salmon Skin Sewing, Traditional Yup’ik Fashion Shows, and the Salmon Run Obstacle Course are a few of the community events offered. Culture Camps engage youth in Yupik traditions, values, and knowledge. Youth engage in a variety of activities, including learning about local plants, birds and animals, how to make medicine, how to craft dance fans and headdresses, and participating in Native Dance.
One camper enjoyed June Camp so much he told his mother that he wanted to attend July Camp too, “even if it’s all the same activities – it’s fun!” he said.
Campers regularly share what they’ve learned with family members, collecting Tundra Tea on family outings, and brewing it for family and friends. Youth enjoy creating and sharing healing lotions and collecting healing plants.
Following the Yup’ik Values of sharing and working together, Bristol Bay 4-H partners with other family service agencies, such as but not limited to; the schools, food bank, Native and Health corporations, Tribes, shelters, and more, providing a greater reach and depth in services.
For more information about Bristol Bay 4-H visit: http://www.alaska4h.org/bristol-baydillingham.html
Campbell Creek Science Center
Who is a scientist? What do scientists do? This summer, over 400 students from afterschool programs in Anchorage explored these questions and more during hands-on lessons supported by the GSK Science in the Summer program. Each week, Bureau of Land Management Campbell Creek Science Center (BLM CCSC) instructors visited students at their program sites or hosted students on field trips for engaging lessons to explore STEM careers. The Science in the Summer program goal of increasing participation of traditionally underrepresented audiences in STEM fits seamlessly into the mission of BLM CCSC - to engage all learners in outdoor experiences that increase their appreciation, connection, and stewardship of Alaska's public lands and natural and cultural resources.
Program partners included Boys and Girls Clubs of Alaska, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Anchorage School District English Language Learners program, Hmoob Cultural Center, and more. As students completed engineering challenges around physics topics and discovered how wildlife biologists use science to complete research during the programs, they learned that anyone can be a scientist and that they use science skills in many parts of their everyday lives.
For more information about Campbell Creek Science Center visit: https://www.blm.gov/learn/interpretive-centers/campbell-creek-science-center
Interested in bringing the joy of summer learning to your afterschool program? Check out the resources below and learn about the daily themes of Summer Learning Week:
Love of Literacy & Learning
Amazing Arts
Wonders of Wellness, Health & Sports
STEM
Community & Leadership