BGCA’s Yetta Robinson is back delivering ideas that you can use RIGHT NOW in your Club or Youth Center.
National Summer Learning Week is July 15 – July 19, 2024. This week is dedicated to promoting the importance of summer learning. Young people learn in all types of settings, and a lot of academic and social-emotional growth can happen during summer because this is often when youth are given the time to explore activities that they find engaging and fun.
Check out these 3 low-prep summer activity ideas for Club members to enjoy that also encourage them to learn new things, get messy, and face challenges –all of which ultimately drives personal growth.
Outdoor Exploration
We love exploring the outdoors during summer programming! Depending on your location, summer temperatures can be hot. While it’s important to use caution to ensure youth are staying cool and safe, warmer weather does provide more opportunities to get outside and explore.
Activity Idea: Nature scavenger hunts are a great way to get Club members moving while investigating their local ecosystems. There are tons of nature-based scavenger hunts online. You can also challenge staff and youth to create their own. Pull out some magnifying scopes and let youth discover the world around them. Be sure to discuss what they found and challenge them to think of ways to ensure they are maintaining healthy environments for wildlife.
Leveraging Technology
If it’s safer to stay indoors, consider leveraging technology. There are tons of age-appropriate websites and games for youth to learn new things.
Activity Idea: Explore our world! Many organizations such as the National Park Service, NASA, and the Smithsonian Institution offer virtual tours and learning experiences. YouTube also has a lot of great videos of facility tours such as farms and recycling centers. A great place to start that gives young people a voice in where they would like to travel is Google Earth. Take a poll to see what locations interest your Club members then take them on a virtual trip. The cool thing about Google Earth is that you’re able to input landmark and photos become available for youth to see and discuss. The key to a great virtual experience is creating the right atmosphere and getting youth excited about their virtual trip. Consider having Club staff act as tour guides and provide snacks. If you really want to get fancy, decorate your room like a tour bus and have youth give tickets for entry. You can even pull out some binoculars and cameras to take photos of your journey. With technology and a bit of planning, the possibilities are endless!
Lean Into Nostalgia
A few years ago, I told a group of camp kids that we were going to play hopscotch and many of them looked at me like they had no idea what I was referring to! While some youth have been introduced to classic group games, others may not have. Group games are a great way for young people to work on peer-to-peer skills, and they’re a lot of fun! Poll your Club staff to see what games they used to play and incorporate them into your day.
Activity Idea: Host a Color War! Color Wars are classic summer camp competitions. There are also many blogs detailing how to implement one. In general, youth are divided into teams and each team is given a color. Teams compete against each other in a series of games, and the team with the most points is the winner. Incorporate some low-prep games for this event. For younger members, pull out ‘Red Light, Green Light,’ ‘Red Rover,’ and tag. For older members, Capture the Flag and Four Square is always fun. For more games and activities, check out the Ultimate Camp Resource website.
For more fun summer learning activities, be sure to check out Summer Brain Gain, available on Club Programs. Summer Brain Gain is a summer learning-loss prevention program designed specifically for Boys & Girls Clubs. Week-long modules with fun themes are perfect for summer in the Club. Young people complete fun, hands-on activities as part of larger projects that spark their curiosity and encourage them to fall in love with learning. Youth have opportunities to explore their interests while building academic and social-emotional skills. Summer Brain Gain includes modules designed for elementary, middle and high school students!
What are your favorite low-prep activity ideas? How do you keep things fun during summer programming? We want to hear! Comment below, on the BGCA Youth Development Facebook page, or email ClubXBlog@bgca.org.
