Summer is the time for learning. We have all heard about the tragedy of summer
learning loss, but too often we translate that into thinking youth have to be
engaged in “school” to be learning.
Nothing could be further from the truth!
Summer learning could certainly include traditional “school” things like
reading, doing a science investigation, or learning about the neighborhood, but
it can also include things like Cuisine 101 and Travel Agent classes, volunteering
at the library or a preschool center, creating a scavenger hunt to familiarize
yourself and others with historical sites in your community, or even going on a
virtual tour of natural history museums around the world.
Summer is the time for a different kind of
learning, one that captures the interest of the youth involved and that will
lead the youth to a deeper understanding of the topic selected. In a Cuisine 101 class you might help youth
create dishes they could easily replicate at home. For example, if you created
a “Chopped” episode, you could ask youth to prepare pizza using bread, catsup,
oregano and cheese and cook it in a solar oven that they made. You could also have them experience a “beach
barbecue” by having them roast hot dogs in a Pringle’s can. Or perhaps you will let them make ice cream
in a bag by becoming the “external” dasher.
All of these experiences will help the youth gain confidence in him or
herself and could have a practical application when it comes time to fix a
snack or dinner at home.
Summer is time for you to learn something new as
well. What would you like to learn about? Would you like to read a book a week, travel
to a nearby attraction, volunteer at a homeless center, take a calligraphy
class through the city parks and rec department, or walk every day for an hour,
going somewhere different every day.
Whatever it is—giving yourself time to reflect and think uninterrupted,
learning something new, or indulging one of your learning wishes—give yourself
permission to be a summer learner. Open
your mind, take it all in, and consider what you want to learn next.
What are your summer plans? Let us know—respond to this blog and share
your plans with us.
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