Ending Summer Learning Loss
Through The Power of Camp
Mystic Lake is a place for fun and friendships, but did you also know its a place to keep camper's school skills sharp during the summer months?
What is summer learning loss?
Summer Learning Loss is a decrease in academic level over the course of summer. The National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) survey indicated 66% of teachers spend 3-4 weeks at the beginning of the school year re-teaching previous year, 24% spend at least 5 weeks.
Regardless of income, most children lose 2 months of grade level equivalency in math skills every summer. More than half of the achievement gap between lower- and higher-income youth can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities. As a result, low-income youth are less likely to graduate from high school or enter college (Alexander et al, 2007). Here at mystic all campers have access to programs to keep their skills sharp.
What we do at Mystic to stop summer learning loss
Camp Readers - This program provides children with opportunities to read for a minimum of 30 minutes each day. Reading can be done during Open Choice, cabin time, rest hour and/or in a structured skill clinic. Staff read to kids, kids read on their own, kids read to other kids, etc. Research shows that a child reading for 30 minutes each day over the course of the summer can halt summer learning loss and help close the achievement gap.
STEM (Science Technology, Engineering and Math) programs can include plotting the scientific method, measuring data points and creating hypothesis all while creating working volcanoes in the sand at the waterfront.
Creative Writing- Everything from comic book creations, short story writing, story performances and group challenges, campers can create imaginative tales to share with their cabin mates and counselors. You may even be able to get your hands on an issue of the Mystic Morning newspaper.
Drama- Campers create a play in which they are the directors and performers in charge of developing characters, plot and the synopsis of their play. The campers perform their skits at the end of the week for all of camp.
We offer many other programs that keep campers learning, everything from calculating the trajectory of their archery shot to sitting the trot on horseback, campers learn new skills everyday at Mystic Lake. All of these choices help our campers stay sharp in school and gain success over the course of their academic careers. A week at summer camp helps campers to build their social skills, grow in their creativity, make friends and leave with a sense of accomplishment in their skill based classes. We can't wait to have the opportunity to offer these choices to your camper during summer 2016.
Early bird discount until March 31, 2016!
