The summer holidays aren’t very helpful for some students when they return to school in September.
Leaving their homework behind in June and not hitting the books for two months can be a challenge for some students, especially those with literacy and numeracy problems. It’s called the summer learning gap.
So for around 140 students, Lakehead Public Schools hosts literacy and numeracy camps for the first three weeks in July.
“What we try to do is close that gap,” Lakehead Public Schools elementary program coordinator Robin Tabor-John said Monday.
Tabor-John said the camps aren’t like summer school. Instead they incorporate learning with fun activities and field trips. Most students maintain their education throughout the summer through the camps. Some even return to the classroom with better skills.
Taiya Daley, 8, wanted to go to the camp at Sherbrooke Public School because it looked like a lot of fun among other reasons.
“To be happy and play with my friends and meet new people,” she said.
As for her favourite part, Daley said an excursion to Chippewa Park topped the list so far.
The park also topped the list for seven-year-old Lloyd Cory.
“I thought it would be fun and it is,” he said of the camp. “At first I was a little shy and scared but I came.”
The two students are also big readers.
“It’s interesting and sometimes it gives you information and it’s fun,” Cory said.
