SOUTH BEND, Ind.-- For three years, the Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Indiana Corridor have been partnering with the School City of Mishawaka to run a Summer Learning Lab, aiming to bridge the gap between the school year and the summer-preparing students for the coming year.
"This started three years ago when we partnered with School City of Mishawaka, when they ran their summer school and we ran our enrichment program in the afternoon." Duane Wilson, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Indiana Corridor. "We blended it together. It was an amazing success. The Mind Trust Foundation heard about it and they asked us to run their summer learning labs."
These two programs were blended together to create the Summer Learning Lab, which runs from 8:30 to 4:30 P.M. and includes a half day of summer school followed by enrichment activates such as field trips and guest speakers.
Last year, across six cities in the local region, the Boys & Girls Club served over 2,000 students.
The labs are open to first graders through ninth graders currently in the Boys & Girls Club.
Those who are not currently a part of the Boys & Girls Club can speak with their principles to find where Summer Learning Labs are being held in their district.
The Mind Trust, in partnership with the Department of Education, are working to expand the Summer Learning Labs across the state of Indiana.