Did you know that more than half of U.S. students experience summer learning losses—five years in a row? According to a study published in American Educational Research Journal, these students lose an average of 39 percent of their total school year gains during each summer!

Summers are a formative time in a child’s development, and research has found that well-planned, high-quality summer learning programs can produce meaningful benefits for students. However, summertime experiences are not evenly and equitably distributed, and many children lack access to quality experiences due to the challenges of availability, accessibility, and affordability.*

A Place in the Sun

While these statistics might seem daunting, ASAS is transforming summers into a season of growth, adventure, and discovery for our students. Across the organization, our curriculum aims to develop the whole child: intellectually, socially, physically, and emotionally. From cosmetology to Japanese calligraphy, STEM camps to ropes courses, and field trips to beaches, theme parks, and professional sporting events—our free programs ensure that All-Star students never stop learning.

Every summer, ASAS grows its summer camp footprint and reaches more young people. This year, we provided more than 50,000 students across 200+ camps with a safe place to learn, explore, and connect with peers and caring adults.

 

Reaching New Heights

This summer, Drone Legends was one of the most popular programs at our North Texas chapter. The program allows students to get hands-on with drones: piloting them, making repairs, and tweaking the coding to accomplish specific tasks. “Students love the challenge of completing the mission simulations that are part of each lesson,” says Vonna Morgan, Program Manager, ASAS North Texas, “and teachers are excited about the ways we incorporate math concepts such as force, speed, and measurement into the coding.”

Thanks to an inspirational grant from the Arch Group Foundation, Drone Legends became part of the school year and summer curricula at 6 traditional ASAS sites and 18 Heal Play Learn partnership sites (coordinated by ASAS North Texas staff). The program serves All-Star students in Grades 3-8, with specific lesson plans to ensure that activities are accessible and engaging for everyone.

Younger students are introduced to STEM basics through engaging stories, physical play, and interactive games that encourage teamwork and critical thinking. As students progress through the curriculum, they are introduced to drone piloting, real-world drone applications, science and math applications, engineering design process, aerial video and editing, and coding concepts.

*Source: The National Academy of Sciences. “Shaping Summertime Experiences: Opportunities to Promote Healthy Development and Well-Being for Children and Youth.”