By Erin Chamberlain, contributing writer
Summer is a wonderful time for relaxing, carefree fun. But parents also worry their kids will not have enough productive things to do, resulting in the "summer slump.GÇ¥ All children experience learning losses when they do not engage in educational activities for an extended period of time, like summer break. On average, research shows that students lose two months of grade level equivalency in mathematics and low-income students are even more susceptible to losses, losing an additional two months in reading achievement.
But there are ways parents can help combat these learning losses over the summer, and the kids will have fun doing it!
Sign up for summer camp GÇô There are many options for learning and fun for ages 3 and older in a wide variety of settings in Monroe and surrounding communities. The Monroe-Sky Valley YMCA and Boys and Girls Club both offer affordable summer camps and many churches offer free or low-cost Vacation Bible School. You can also visit the Cherry Valley Macaroni Kid Summer Camp (www.cherryvalley.macaronikid.com) for nature, farm, arts, sports and science camps in the area.
Visit a local historical museum--from mining and farming history to memorabilia and hands-on fun, we have several local and free historical museums.
Visit the Sultan Historical Museum above the Sultan Post Office, open the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month from 10 a.m. GÇô 2 p.m.
The Western Heritage Center offers one of the most comprehensive hands-on museums on early life in the Pacific Northwest. Visit Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. GÇô 5 p.m. or Sunday, noon GÇô 5 p.m. at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds.
Logging, trains, agriculture and rivers make up a rich history for Monroe, all showcased the Monroe Historical Museum on East Main Street Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. GÇô 4 p.m.
Other options include Duvall's Dougherty homestead, where tours are offered of the home, which is listed on the National Register of Historical Places, each Sunday from 1-4 p.m. May GÇô September. The Duvall Historical Society also hosts a heritage festival the last Saturday in September at the home. The Dougherty House is located at 26520 Cherry Valley Road in Duvall. The Tolt Historical Society maintains a museum with over 1,000 items from Carnation's more than a century of history at Carnation Farm located across from Camp Korey on Carnation Farm Road. It is open select Saturdays from 1-3 p.m. See the full schedule at tolthistoricalsociety.org.
Check the Cherry Valley Macaroni Kid Calendar and e-newsletter for story times at the library, as well as special story times at Main St. Books in Monroe and Barnes & Noble in Woodinville. Story times are always free and a great way to continue summer learning.
Visit a Children's Museum like the Everett Children's Museum GÇô we have six children's museums in western Washington, proving that learning is play and play is learning!
Put on your thinking cap and try an outdoor activity like geocaching or letterboxing,-áin which you follow clues to a hidden prize.
Plan a visit to Camlann Medieval Village. Situated between Duvall and Carnation, Camlann is open each weekend and offers the opportunity to view demonstrations including blacksmithing, animal care, artwork, gardening, candle making, culinary and medicinal herbs, shoemaking, spinning, weaving, clothing design and other household skills. Presentations provide an opportunity to interact with villagers, discussing their work and life in the 14th century.
Sign up for the free summer learning programs through the King County or Sno-Isle libraries.
Explore Summer with Sno-Isle Libraries: Participants who read for 10 hours during the summer will win a free prize book at their local libraries. If they read for 50 hours, they earn the title of "Power ReaderGÇ¥ and will be entered into a drawing to win a Kindle Fire HD 6. All will be encouraged to take advantage of library programs that build skills for school success. They will have the chance to create catapults, discover insects, explore super science, write online book reviews and meet real-life heroes. Register for the program at www.sno-isle.org/news?nid=741.
At KCLS Libraries this summer, kids will learn that Every Hero has a Story. Pick up your free Summer Learning Activity book and track reading minutes in the log or online. Preschoolers (ages 0-5) who color in 10 or more activities on their activity sheet can bring it in to the library to collect a final prize, beginning August 1. Elementary (ages 5-12) students can pick up a reading log at the local library, download one, or track minutes online. When a child has read 500 minutes and completed one activity for each of the S.T.R.E.A.M. letters, bring that log to the library to collect a final prize, beginning August.
Children involved in summer activities such as these that include critical thinking, creativity and hands-on discovery, are more likely to begin the school year better prepared for success!
-áAbout the Author
Erin Chamberlain is a local mom and publisher of the free weekly e-newsletter, Cherry Valley Macaroni Kid. Cherry Valley Macaroni Kid gives parents the scoop on all kid activities and family fun in Carnation, Duvall, Redmond Ridge, Cottage Lake, Monroe, Sultan and surrounding communities. Subscribe for free at www.cherryvalley.macaronikid.com and find her on Facebook.
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