Summer is in full swing here at the Boys & Girls Club of the Redwoods, and we couldn't be more excited for the great weather and for all of our summer programs! Did you know that students can lose up to two months worth of learning from the school year, and that income-based reading gaps appear over the summer time, meaning that middle class-students tend to show improvement, while low-income students tend to experience learning loss? For many of our members, the struggle with summer learning loss is one that is all too real, and a challenge that we, at all of our sites, are trying to help our members conquer. Thanks to the Rose Perenin Foundation, we are able to provide our members with a quality summer experience that aids in preventing summer learning loss. Members are able to participate in Summer Brain Gain, which you can read about as our Featured Program this month, which allows them to engage in games and activities that are academically based, but just feel like games.We are also able to run Camp Odyssey in Arcata, which is a four week, all day summer camp that is geared towards STEM and art activities.  If you would like to become involved in our programs, whether it is through a donation or volunteering your time, please feel free to give our office a call at (707) 441-1030 to learn more. 

In the midst of talking about the state of education across the country, there's one problem that is frequently left of the table; summer learning loss. On average, students can lose up to two months of learning from the previous school year, and it can take teachers up to six weeks at the beginning of the school year reteaching material. To help teachers and students combat that summer learning loss, Boys & Girls Clubs of America developed Summer Brain Gain, a six week, Common Core aligned program that engages members with theme based activities. Lessons are focused on math, literacy, and 21st century skills, and can be supplemented with modules specifically focused on STEM or reading. At our sites, members take on projects in engineering clay and Popsicle stick bridges, taking about creative uses for recycling, the importance of diversity and inclusion, and college preparedness. This program is implemented organization wide, with all sites running modules that fit best with our members. If you would like to see this program in action, or would like to know more about any of our programs, please feel free to call our office at (707) 441-1030, or visit our website at bgcredwoods.org.