Prevent Summer Learning Loss with Sylvan Summer Camps

Summer camps have been around for more than 100 years. But, recent research on the pervasive problem of summer learning loss, in which students “lose” the skills they learned over the academic year, is fueling the skyrocketing popularity of summer academic camps. For instance, the average student loses approximately 2.6 months of math computational ability during the summer months, according to a report compiled by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Summer Learning.

To conquer summer learning loss, Sylvan Learning Center has recently added Sylvan Academic Camps as an offering for students in Pre-K through eighth grade. Whether you want your child to get a jump on the beginning reading skills that will be taught in kindergarten, to practice writing or to improve complex math problem-solving skills, Sylvan has a summer camp that will meet your child’s needs.

The Nature of the Camps
Because all children deserve a break from the rigors of daily school lessons, Sylvan has made an effort to keep summer camps a little lighter than the typical, more intensive tutoring sessions it offers.

“The summer classes are more fun. We play a lot of games and involve creative learning activities that children can do together. And, we do it in small-group settings,” says Laurie Layton, senior director of Curriculum Development at Sylvan Learning Center.

The summer camps reinforce recently taught skills. In that way, the camps create bridges while closing academic gaps between summer break and the start of the upcoming school year.

Unlike most Sylvan tutoring sessions, which require a Sylvan Skills Assessment® for placement purposes, Sylvan Academic Camps have no pre-assessment requirements. “We position the camps more as a fun approach to learning and maintaining skills. They are considered academic and social activities. And, they give students a taste of Sylvan’s environment,” Layton explains.

How Can You Tell If Sylvan Academic Camps Are Right For Your Child?

“If your child has the summer off and you want her to participate in an activity for a couple of hours at a time to ensure her mind stays active and engaged, a summer camp at Sylvan might be just the thing to encourage summer learning,” Layton says.

To find out which Sylvan summer camps are available at the center nearest you, please call 1-800-228-3413.

Tips for Choosing an Academic Summer Camp

• Talk with your child’s teacher to find out which skills can be sharpened or learned over the summer to prepare for the upcoming school year.
• Ensure camp leaders have expertise in the subject matter, and won’t simply be “babysitting” your child.
• Look for a tutor with experience teaching children the same age as your child.
• Request specifics about the curriculum before enrolling your student.
• Define your goals. Are you trying to keep your child from failing? Are you looking to challenge a child who is already doing well in school? Be sure your tutor understands your objective and is skilled enough to meet it.
• Make a personality match. Determine what kind of teacher the student has excelled with previously.
• Schedule a camp that fits your child’s attention span, and still allows for summer fun.
• Ask prospective camps for references from previous families.
• Make sure the summer camp is licensed or certified.