At Saskatoon Public Schools, the learning doesn’t stop in summer! From August 10-14, 22 schools across the city are hosting Camp Brain Power. During the week, over 450 students going into Grades 2 and 3 spend a week playing games, meeting new friends, and most importantly, practicing reading skills ahead of the new school year.

Camp Brain Power is an initiative supported by Saskatoon Public Schools Foundation (SPSF) and made possible thanks to the generous support of community partners: BHP, TD, Crown Investments Corporation, SIGA and Show Kids You Care.

“It’s a time for kids to re-engage and get excited to go back to school,” says SPSF CEO, Zeba Ahmad. She describes how some students may experience “summer slippage,” when skills learned during the school year can be forgotten during the summer break. Zeba says that she’s grateful for the teachers who come back for the week to support students in their reading skills and help them get excited for fall.

Ms. Brianna Aubin, teacher at Buena Vista School, describes the benefits she sees in students: “It’s a great way for them to get back into the routine, back around their peers… they get to forge those connections and talk about what they did this summer. And then re-engage with some of that literacy – getting back to reading, sharing out loud, and doing some learning activities.”

Ms. Aubin mentions that Camp Brain Power is a bit different than a regular school day. As a summer camp, the program has a heavy emphasis on hands-on activities, games, and time spent outdoors.

Harlo, a student who attended last year, says that the outdoor activities were her favourite part of the camp. In particular, she loved looking at trees and learning which kinds they are.

Ms. Aubin leaves us with a reminder that all families can work on reading during summer! She recommends building reading into day-to-day activities, through books or even by reading signs and words that children encounter out in the world.

Watch a full interview with Zeba, Ms. Aubin, and Harlo here to learn more about Camp Brain Power.