Summer Programs
Facilitation can be challenging to teach, but when your counselors “get it,” the results are phenomenal. Check out these training tools, with exercises in facilitation, staff schedules, expectations, and examples, and consider if they have a place in your staff training.
A large assortment of free downloadable summer activities for youth programs, including animals, science, social studies, health, biographies, and more.
Summer Learning Initiative Tools and Webinars from You for Youth – Here you’ll find all the tools you need for developing your Summer Learning Program. Please be sure to visit the corresponding step along the path!
CREATING A PROGRAM TEAM
CONDUCTING YOUR NEEDS ASSESSMENT
WRITING SMART GOALS
DETERMINING LOGISTICS
INTENTIONAL ACTIVITY DESIGN
INTENTIONAL STUDENT RECRUITMENT
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
ADDITIONAL TOOLS
These videos include key practices, recommendations, and program models for school district and community-based providers looking for guidance on planning fun, engaging, and collaborative summer learning programs. These are all highlights from PCY’s 2021, 2022, and 2023 Summer Game Plan webinar series.
-Relationships Are Keys to Success
-Short Timelines Planning and Changing Models
-Program Planning, Partnership, and Co-Design
-Summer Staffing Solutions
-Effectively Managing Site Operations
-Program Scheduling
-Daily Operations: Tips and Recommendations
The Wallace Foundation’s Summer Learning Toolkit features evidence-based tools and guidance for delivering effective programs.
During the summer, low-income students lose ground compared to their wealthier peers. But summer can also be a time to help level the playing field through high-quality, summer learning programs that research shows produce measurable benefits in math, reading and social and emotional learning.
With more than 50, evidence-based tools and resources—drawn from the work of five urban school districts and their partners, and aligned with research from RAND—the Summer Learning Toolkit helps educators deliver programs that make a real difference.
This 30-Day Summer Challenge flyer includes creative ideas designed to keep students engaged in their learning. With 30 days’ worth of fun activities, facts, and resources, learners are bound to learn something new each day and make the most out of summer break.
Practical tools and resources for planning summer learning programs
A high-quality summer program is shaped by the local community and the students and families it serves. There is not a singular pathway or simple formula to follow when creating a summer program; instead, there are many evidence-based elements that should be considered within a local context and infused into programming to ensure quality and student success.
The Summer Learning Toolkit is a companion document to the Summer Learning Best Practice Guide. The aim of this resource is to bring forward the Key Elements of Quality Summer Programming from the Best Practice Guide in the form of easy, accessible and practical tools to support the planning of robust summer programs.
The National Summer Learning Association has produced a program toolkit to help summer programs celebrate National Summer Learning Week.
NSLA has gathered these resources to assist programs in shaping and strengthening their summer programs. Resources include archived webinars, tip sheets for providers and parents and caregivers, and toolkits.
KID smART, a creative youth development education-based nonprofit organization, has created a video series for K-8th grade students to continue engaging in the arts. Currently, they have over 64 videos that are free to the public on their YouTube channel.
The BCYF SuperTeens Program is a six week leadership program for 13 and 14 year olds who are interested in developing new skills, making new friends, and having a fun summer. This program is specifically designed to meet the needs of young adults who are too old for a traditional summer camp experience, but are not yet old enough to secure a summer job.
After School Matters provides teens the opportunity to explore their passions and develop their talents through world-class after school and summer programs across Chicago.
Summer Camp Hub is a useful resource to find the best summer camp suited for you.