Boys & Girls Club of St. Joseph County Introduces Exciting Summer Learning Lab Program

The Boys and Girls Club of St. Joseph County is launching its first ever Summer Learning LabPhoto by(WSBT 22 Photo)

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. (WSBT) — Students in St. Joseph County have a new, exciting opportunity this summer with the launch of the Boys & Girls Club’s first-ever Summer Learning Lab. This innovative program combines academic learning with outdoor exploration, aiming to help students catch up and get ahead after the educational disruptions caused by the pandemic.

The initiative, which originally started in Indianapolis last year, caught the attention of the Indiana Secretary of Education due to its positive impact. This year, the program is expanding across the state, with the Boys & Girls Club of St. Joseph County partnering with major school districts to involve middle and high school students.

Running for five weeks from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, the Summer Learning Lab offers a balanced day of classroom instruction and afternoon community engagement activities. The program is designed to provide a safe and stimulating environment that keeps students academically engaged during the summer months, preventing the typical summer learning slide.

Significantly, this program is funded by the largest grant awarded to any educational program in Indiana, ensuring that participating students receive free breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day.

Jacqueline Kronk, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of St. Joseph County, emphasized the importance of this initiative: "Unfortunately, a lot of our kids are pacing below where they need to be academically due to pandemic-related learning loss. This program offers a positive and impactful experience that helps mitigate that loss and makes learning fun for our kids."

With this new Summer Learning Lab, the Boys & Girls Club of St. Joseph County is taking a crucial step in supporting the educational and personal development of local students, ensuring they stay on track and enjoy their summer.