Help us Celebrate Summer Learning Day, June 20th
by Jon Sayer | | Posted under
Click to read Gov. Inslee’s proclamation
Celebrate with communities across our state and nation this Friday Summer Learning Day, a national day of advocacy to help spread awareness about the importance of summer learning in helping close the achievement gap and supporting healthy development in communities across the country.
Here in Washington State, Governor Jay Inslee recently proclaimed June 20th Washington Summer Learning Day! Read the proclamation (pdf) and share it with members of your community to show that we here in Washington support and believe in the importance of summer programs in keeping our children healthy and engaged during the summer months.
If you haven’t already started planning your Summer Learning Day event, it’s not too late. While we are recognizing this day on June 20th, you can hold an event anytime during summer to celebrate your program and its impact on youth and families, and we have resources that could be of use to you.
Be sure to register your event on the Summer Learning Day map to show what’s happening in Washington State, and share the Governor’s proclamation to further demonstrate how your program is connected to a larger movement.
Here are some other ideas to help you plan your Summer Learning Day celebration:
- Visit the National Summer Learning Association website for tools, resources and more to help you plan a Summer Learning Day event.
- Visit School’s Out Washington’s Advocacy Toolkit webpage for our summer learning toolkit, devoted to reaching out to media around summer learning. Contact Danielle Baer, School’s Out Washington’s Communications Manager for support in connecting with your local media.
- Connect to your local library. Many libraries across the state and nation have summer programs encouraging children to read through a variety of activities and programming.
Don’t forget that it’s not just about learning. Summer programs can also help curb summertime hunger for children. Here’s a recent news story highlighting the work that the Jefferson County YMCA has done to increase participation in their summer literacy and meal program. Check-out www.parenthelp123.org to find a summer meal site near you where children 0-18 can receive a free meal.
