Congratulations to all the K-12 teachers for completing the 2021-2022 school year! We hope all of you, as well as parents and students, are enjoying a festive kick-off to summer.

We ran the numbers, and over the past year (July 2021-June 2022) the IdahoPTV Education team has participated in or hosted 134 family, community, and educator events around the state, reaching a total of 13,292 children and adults from all around our state. We are so proud of how our enthusiastic and caring team serves Idaho's families, educators, and communities.

Here's what's in store for July:

In June, we honored 33 young Idaho writers and illustrators in kindergarten through third grade at three in-person ceremonies for our 28th Annual PBS KIDS Writers Contest: North Idaho ceremony on June 18 in Moscow; Eastern Idaho ceremony on June 18 in Pocatello; and Southwestern Idaho ceremony on June 25 in Boise.

Of the 359 entries, 94 were from North Idaho, 132 from Eastern Idaho, 133 were from Southwestern Idaho. IDeal College Savings, the contest’s corporate sponsor, provided each student winner with a $100 college savings account.

PBS announced the 2022 class of educators selected for the PBS Digital Innovator All-Star Program honoring classroom changemakers who offer fresh ideas and bold approaches to supporting their students’ growth and learning.

Nominated by their local PBS stations, 20 educators were chosen from across the country. We are thrilled to announce that Katie Mason, an Integration Specialist with the Boise School District, was selected as a PBS Digital Innovator All-Star for the 2022-23 school year. Mason previously was named Idaho Public Television Digital Innovator for the 2020-21 school year, which put her into consideration for the national All-Star honor.

Whether you're looking for music and dance activities, science experiments, family-friendly adventures, or learning about animals (plus more!), you will find free media and activity resources in the free Camp PBS LearningMedia collection.

Summer camp kits include multi-day, sequenced experiences that are designed

to be adapted to suit a wide variety of learning environments.

All come packaged with full activity plans, supporting materials for facilitators, related video clips and digital games, and take-home supports to encourage family engagement. Pre-K to Grade 5. Resources also available in Spanish.

SRL Teacher Workshop Application

Join PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs from July 25 to July 27 for our FREE annual teacher workshop—this time in person at Rocky Mountain PBS in Denver! Contact us with questions. More on Idaho's student reporting.

Bubbles abounded at June's annual Family Summer Kickoff event in Declo, Idaho, hosted by the Declo School District. Idaho organizations that support children's education—including IdahoPTV Education; the Think, Make, Create trailer; Children's Museum, and the Forest Service—were there for free family fun and to provide access to resources small Idaho communities often don't have. But the big draw was when members of the Declo Fire Department brought out the bubbles!

More than 250 people kicked off summer at the event—which is pretty impressive for a town of 500!

IdahoPTV Education's Family Education Specialist Florina Ruvio says, "It felt like every family in Declo attended the summer kickoff events! Parents and children alike seemed to be having a great time. Apparently, the firefighters visiting is a bit of a tradition and it was so fun to see the whole community come together and play."

The Raising Resilient Kids: Mental Health Matters special aired on Idaho Public Television at the end of June, featuring a special discussion to learn how to talk with your children about their mental health.

July's Science Trek: Animal Adaptation

Birds have adaptations to help them fly. Butterflies are different colors to help them hide from predators. Learn how animals change to survive new conditions.

Each month, Science Trek explores a different topic, with short videos available on the Science Trek website, YouTube, and LearningMedia. The Science Trek website has facts, games, links and lesson plans correlated to Idaho and national science standards.

online game

Learn about sea life while creating

sand art and decorating it

with coral and shells.

online game