Teen Summer Slide: 6 Ways to Stay Sharp Year Round

Let’s be real, summer should be fun! We all remember that sense of freedom we felt as the final bell of the school year signaled our long-awaited freedom. Lazy days and late nights filled with ice cream, beach trips, bonfires, and hanging out with friends are a must. But let’s get honest about something else, too. The relaxing pace of summer can make it difficult for teens to get back into the swing of things come September. However, we can prevent the summer slide!

So, what is a summer slide? It refers to the learning loss that many students experience while taking a three-month hiatus from structure and education. Summer should be fun, but it should be balanced fun. Keeping your teen’s mind in shape doesn’t have to look like summer school. It can look like summer cool. Learning doesn’t have to be homework and lectures. Learning can look like play! Here’s a list of local opportunities to keep teens engaged, entertained, and educated this summer:

AACPL’S SUMMER @ YOUR LIBRARY PROGRAM

Anne Arundel County Public Library (AACPL) offers its annual Summer @ Your Library initiative, which promotes learning throughout the summer by encouraging all ages to read and attend educational programs for prizes.

Visit aacpl.net/summer for more information.

ENROLL IN A COURSE AT ANNE ARUNDEL COMMUNITY COLLEGE (AACC)

AACC is not just for high-school grads. Teens can explore classes on campus through Kids in College. This year’s personal enrichment classes include:

Roblox Coders
Beats and Jams: Digital Music Creators
Kids in the Kitchen
Esports Apprentice – YouTube Streamers and Gamers
Python Programmers: Make Your Own Multiplayer
Rhythm and Riffs: Jazz Band Camp
Dungeons and Dragons: The Quest Begins
Japanese Anime 101
Virtual Reality: The Future is Now
Get Prepared: Geometry
Day in the Court: Mock Trial

Explore youth programs at aacc.edu/programs-and-courses.

VOLUNTEER

Volunteering offers teens hands-on experiences to foster growth and enrichment, while teaching life skills and providing valuable experiences that make their resumes shine! Teens can polish communication skills, learn leadership techniques, and practice time-management skills, all while giving back to their community and doing things they enjoy! Local options include food banks, animal shelters, community centers, hospitals, libraries, Annapolis Maritime Museum, Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake, the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC), SPCA of Anne Arundel County, and assisted living facilities.

Anne Arundel County Recreation and Parks has unique opportunities for teens to serve as counselors in training. Their youth volunteer programs allow middle and high school-aged youth to volunteer in various ways.

Visit aacounty.org/recreation-parks/volunteers for more information.

GET BOARD… WITH GAMES!

Board games, card games, and other strategy-based games like chess, as well as story-driven games like Dungeons & Dragons, offer engaging ways to keep the brain active. Problem-solving and executive functioning skills can be practiced while playing games with friends.

Local library branches host chess clubs on a regular basis. Organizations like Silver Knights Chess Academy host summer camps at Anne Arundel County schools, as well as online chess camps for youth up to age 13.

Token MTG in Annapolis and Games and Stuff in Glen Burnie often host community events, tournaments, game nights, and social groups.

MEDIA ARTS AT MARYLAND HALL

Art and media enrich and engage the mind in creative ways that enhance critical thinking, problem-solving, and executive functioning skills. Maryland Hall offers a variety of summer classes focused on Media Arts. Classes in the Media Arts Hub include Photoshop, audio book narration, film study, and other digital arts. Summer classes include Digital Mindful Art: A Creative Pause For Your Mind, Song
Writing & Song Production, and Summer Short: Films for Ages 16+.

KEEP EDUCATION FRESH IN THE MIND

For students who might benefit from continued support in math, tutoring can be a low-stress way to ensure that learned concepts stay fresh in mind and are not forgotten over summer break. For teens who are planning to take the SAT and ACT, summer help can be invaluable! Mathnasium and Sylvan Learning of Crofton provide SAT and ACT prep classes designed to equip students with conceptual understanding and long-term retention. These 12-week and 8-week courses include expert instruction utilizing authentic practice tests to build familiarity and accuracy.

TO SUMMARIZE

Summer doesn’t have to be a total break from growth and learning. It can be a balanced mix of education and entertainment. Learning is not something only done in the classroom. It’s happening all the time!