Articles
Summer Camps leads to Smarter Kids!
by George Mike Marketing managerSummer Camps leads to Smarter Kids!
By Aaron
Dungca Needham Teacher
There are foundational gaps correlated to the US academic summer
calendar and amount of time children are away from organized intellectual
stimulation. With his teaching, coaching and camp director experience, Aaron
Dungca wants to share his educational perspective for all.
April 4, 2019: Families across the US are faced with a
problem of education gap with their children that is non-discriminatory and
inevitable with trends pointing to higher occurrences. According to a recent study by NWEA (Northwest Evaluation Association)
rates in children who experienced repetitive summer learning loss are behind 2
academic years on average compared to their peers by sixth grade. It then takes up to two months after the
first day of school to achieve the same level of brain development.
The
education gap occurs in all families and does not typically mean lower income
families are always most affected.
Current research gathered evidence during the 36 weeks students are in
school and have concrete evidence of RIT (Rasch Unit Scale) showing on average
students gain 13+ points during the year and lose 3-5 points during the summer
months. This lag of education is not a
fault from schools but a lack of understanding or focus by most populations
during the ease of summer vacation.
Schools attempt to balance family vacation time through a minimal summer
reading plan. This strategy is to apply
a maintenance plan on reading skills children possess before leaving school for
8 weeks. However, reading alone does not address the holistic make up of a child. Stimulation in math concepts, social-emotional
learning, physical activity and natural curiosity still need to be satisfied
and nourished in order to fully support the growing spirit, mind and body of a
child.
Addressing the decline of academic stimulation
for a child can take on many shapes and sizes.
Examples like visiting the local library and participating in book
events, creating posters, advertisements or public service announcements
requiring accurate spelling and images, comic book stories, and nightly story
time. Such activities can be done
immediately, continuously and act as a fun activity (pending the provider has
much energy and excitement presenting the stimulus!)
Summer
learning loss fortunately is well known among educators and youth development
professionals. Many educators take on a
second role within summer camp organizations or enrichment programs. Organizations and programs have much to offer
and varies in costs and services. If a camp
or enrichment program is a choice families would like to make for their child,
some points of interest that provide credibility and trust should be present
within the organization. These points of
interest address safety, curriculum, and cost.
A great way to find credible camps have accreditation from the American Camp Association.
Accreditation is a comprehensive process in which demonstrates the
compliance of a camp towards mandatory standards that spans nationwide and
differs from licensing, which is state to state. Finding summer camps under
this criteria is an increased credibility and security. According to a five year camp impact study, the
American Camp Association show findings that children are able to learn
transferrable skills such as problem solving, effective communication,
relationship building, and delayed gratification. These skills show tremendous impact in the
life of a child outside and inside of the academic year. They promote social and situational
diversities that allow for a child to be successful under daily or acute life
stressors. These acquisitions of skills
have connections in decreasing the learning gap, promote positive brain
development and developmental social-emotional intelligence. The benefits for a child attending summer
camps, creative programs, and movement activities is an investment that would
prove to have a return on investment worthy for long term contributions.
As the
world of COVID-19 has crippled and altered our way of life, camps and
enrichment programs for children will need to strive for more appropriate means
of reaching their target audience.
Virtual interactions has deemed itself the flagship route in connecting
safely and consistently between society but now has relinquished the ability to
build personable bonds in real time.
Our efforts
will need to carry our goals and aspirations for tomorrow that includes the
nourishment for our future children to be challenged, supported, and guided in
an ever changing world.
About Aaron Dungca,
Needham Teacher
Aaron
Dungca, a former
wellness teacher, coach, and camp manager with 8 years experience combating
summer learning loss and building social-emotional intelligence in
children. According to his experiences,
children need more impactful opportunities that compete with the technological the readiness of smart devices. Museums, libraries, parks, camps, and family
togetherness are some of the stages children can obtain high potency content
outside of social media platforms with credibility and at low to no cost.
Please visit the websites and social media of Aaron Dungca Needham Teacher:
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About George Mike 
Marketing manager
13 connections, 0 recommendations, 40 honor points.Joined APSense since, January 30th, 2017, From New York, United States.
Created on Sep 23rd 2020 21:34. Viewed 486 times.
