March 7 - 13, 2024 • D1
Summer programs help St. Louis youth thrive Blueprint4 Database connects parents to thousands of camps for kids and teens
Summer in St. Louis is synonymous with Ted Drews, Busch Stadium, and days spent escaping the humidity with a trip to the pool. But for kids with nowhere to go during the summer months, it can also be a lonely, vulnerable time. For those weeks, students are separated from their learning environment, rigid schedules, and social engagements. Without access to out-of-school programming, youth also suffer the consequences of summer learning loss as students lose the skills acquired during the academic year. June, July, and August can mean missed opportunities to grow for young people across our region. For a generation of kids and teens still recovering from the social and academic effects of the pandemic, these missed opportunities can be devastating. The positive news is that youth program providers across the St. Louis area are working to prevent this crisis. Thousands of opportunities exist for summer learning and fun in the metro region. From arts to academics, STEM to sports, diverse programs have emerged to support kids and teens during the crucial summer months. These camps provide settings for youth to grow their skills and develop dreams for their future. “Providing safe, high-quality, and engaging programming outside of school is one crucial way we can help our kids
Boys and Girls Clubs plan a summer of fun
St. Louis American Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) summer camps are the beginning of fun and new experiences for youth ages 6-18. BGCSTL proudly offers a safe and affordable summer experience with high-quality, age-specific programming. Structured summer activities offer members educational, recreational, social, and cultural activities on-site at various locations in See BGCSTL, D7
Photo courtesy of Camp Onessonk Horse Camp
and teens reach their full potential,” said Allie Cicotte, Director of Programs at The Clark-Fox Family Foundation. “All young people in St. Louis need access to these life-changing opportunities.” For many St. Louis-area parents, it can
be challenging to find programs when they simply aren’t aware of the available summer experiences for their children. Once families do find the right programs, barriers still stand in the way of enrolling their children in summer camps.
Transportation hurdles, cost, and high demand can all prevent children from attending summer programs. In acknowledgement of these barriSee Blueprint4, D7
Sky is the limit at Horizons St. Louis Summer Program St. Louis American The founding SPROG is part of Meacham Park and Kirkwood history, and its impact has been felt for more than 50 years. Known now as Horizons St. Louis Summer Program, the educational and recreational sessions run June 10 to July 19, 2024, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily at Keysor Elementary School in Kirkwood. It is offered to eligible students in the Kirkwood School District attendance area who have completed Kindergarten through fifth grade. Horizons St. Louis in Kirkwood serves students who qualify for free- or reduced-lunch, and who are identified by their teachers as students who would benefit from long-term participation in an extended learning program. Especially during the summer months, out-of-school programs may be costly or offer limited options for transportation and activities, leaving many families unable to participate. These gaps in opportunity all contribute to students experiencing summer learning loss - the cumulative erosion of academic skills over the summer months, which over time can leave students years behind in school, contributing to chronic absenteeism and high school dropout rates. On average, a student who does not experience enriching summer
Photo courtesy of Horizons St. Louis Summer Program
activities can lose up to 2 months in academic skills. “Horizons aims to change this reality,” says the Horizons website. “The program serves students who might otherwise experience significant learning loss during the summer months, ensuring that every child has opportunities to learn and grow.” One parent especially praised the
program’s affiliation with the Kirkwood Public Library for providing books with characters and role models like our students: “This made a huge impact on my daughter. She can see someone who looks like her as a doctor, teacher, nurse or ballet dancer.” See Horizons, D7