For many students across the country, June signifies the end of the school year and the beginning of summer. Summer vacation can be an exciting time to relax, explore, travel, and do all the fun things we can't do during the cold months or during the school year. But being out of school for the summer can also make us miss our teachers, friends, programs, clubs, and all the resources that are housed within our schools. But there's no reason to fret – school may be out, but summer programs are in!
Just because we're not sitting at our desks in school for eight hours a day during the summer doesn't mean we have to stop learning or lose the things we learned during the school year. Tons of organizations across Pennsylvania host fun summer programs that can help keep our brains active and learning! One of the best things about summer learning and summer programs is that it gives us a chance to learn, but at a more leisurely pace with less pressure so we can focus on the things that interest us the most.
One of the best places to seek out summer programs in your community is at your local library! We know libraries are a great place to get lost in a good book, surf the internet, talk to a librarian, or research things that interest us, but did you know many libraries also host fun and exciting programs throughout the summer too? For example, the Free Library of Philadelphia has a calendar full of fun events planned for summer, including magic shows, science experiments, beekeeping and honey extraction, planting a pollinator garden, story times, and more. Other libraries have things like Lego building challenges, reptile shows, and art projects.
Another way to stay engaged and connected with your local library this summer is to take part in a summer reading challenge! Libraries across the commonwealth host summer reading challenges each year and often provide incentives too! To find out how to join a summer reading challenge, reach out to your local library. You can also find and join a summer reading challenge online. For example, Scholastic is also hosting a summer reading challenge. The best part? These challenges are free and can help us learn and improve our reading skills while working toward a goal or prize.
Whether you attend a summer camp, a summer library program, join a reading challenge, or other fun summer learning programs, this summer can be the best one yet! No matter where you live you are bound to find a summer program (or two or three or four) that piques your interest. And, who knows, you might even learn something new!