Recognizing that children can lose up to two months of essential math and reading skills during the summer season, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor joined a national partnership this week with the National Summer Learning Association to highlight the importance of summer learning opportunities at both the Fettig Youth Campus at 600 Nate Wells Drive in Benton Harbor and the Joel E. Smilow Teen Center at 190 West Empire in the city. Local businesses, like Pearson Construction, eager to assure a skilled workforce into the future joined the effort as well.
National Summer Learning Day is an advocacy day led by NSLA to elevate the importance of keeping kids learning, safe, and healthy every summer. In addition to Summer Learning Day, NSLA is partnering with the White House for the Summer Opportunity Project, an unprecedented multi-agency initiative designed to give young people access to their ‘First Job,’ and encourage investment in programs supporting summer learning and meals for America’s young people in the summer.
At the Fettig Youth Campus, Club members between the ages of 9–14 participated Thursday in career mapping, an activity to research career options and the educational requirements needed to pursue those careers. Through a partnership with Junior Achievement and Pearson Construction, a field trip for the 12–14 year olds exposed youth to job opportunities in the construction industry. On July 29, the 9–11 year old members will be hosted by Lakeland Hospital to learn more about job opportunities within the healthcare industry.
Nearly 20 teen center members took a tour of Southwest Michigan College Wednesday as part of the program week. Teens were given full tours of the campus where they learned about admission standards and requirements while sampling student life. This tour is part of a summer series that helps high school freshmen and sophomores begin planning for post-secondary education options at colleges and universities in Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana.
Research shows that summers without quality learning opportunities put our nation’s youth at risk for falling behind – year after year – in core subjects like math and reading. The math and reading skills that low-income students lose each summer are cumulative, and contribute significantly to the achievement gap between low- and high-income kids. An NSLA survey indicated that two-thirds of teachers report spending at least one month re-teaching students old material when they return from summer vacation.
Low-income youth also lose access to healthy meals over the summer. Six out of every seven students who receive free- and reduced-price lunches lose access to them when school lets out. Research also shows that children gain weight twice as fast over the summer compared to during the school year. Moreover, a lack of opportunity for meaningful mentorship and work experience prevents many older youth from successfully completing high school and entering post-secondary education or careers.
Sarah Pitcock is CEO of the National Summer Learning Association. She says, "Many kinds of high-quality learning opportunities during the summer can make a difference in keeping young people on track for success.” She adds, “These opportunities can be found in schools and community organizations—including local libraries and museums— and in businesses, colleges, and community colleges. Families play a critical role in nurturing a joy of learning at home with their kids.”
The Boys & Girls Club of Benton Harbor has served the youth of Benton Harbor since 1999. The Club provides after school and summer programs promoting educational and career development, character and leadership development, and healthy lifestyles for over 1,700 children and teens. Learn more at www.bgcbh.org.
