NEST Community Learning Center Summer Lunch, Learn, and Play Program
Cincinnati Non-Profit Providing an Academic Retention Program to Low-Income Students Contact USFrequent QuestionsNEST Community Learner Center Summer Lunch, Learn, and Play program is a skill academic skill retention program cleverly disguised as a mini summer camp. Instead of going out after school, we’re going at midday, and it involves several different things.
- A Healthy Lunch for Anyone in the Household
- Games
- Crafts
- Academic Skill Retention
Along with NEST’s regular staff members, our mid-day summer program provides the opportunity to give many volunteer groups, from other organizations and churches, to come and help and interact with our kids. Our kids love it! These groups often bring fun activities and crafts with them which makes their experience with our kids even more fun for everyone. These groups see firsthand where their donations are going and what we’re doing in the community and get a better sense of who we are and what we do. Plus, it exposes our students to a much wider network of people than they traditionally spend time with over the summer.
The Importance of Summer Academic Retention
NEST Community Learning Center started the summer program in the summer of 2016 because we needed some way to get to know the families, form relationships and see firsthand how we could best serve the children NEST was created to serve. Many non-profit organizations fall into the trap of sitting around a board table and assuming the needs of the impoverished. They decide on what they think those living in poverty need, usually from a place of privilege or misunderstanding. We spent the time, energy, and resources working alongside the demographic that we wanted to serve, and that question answered itself.
The only thing that’s going to break the back of generational poverty is a job. And the only way you’re going to get a job is to be successful in school, stay in school and get the skills needed behind it to get the job.
NEST Community Learning Center started the program in the summer of 2016 because we needed some way to get to know the family. Many non-profit organizations fall into the trap of sitting around a board table and assuming the needs of the impoverished. They decide on what they think those living in poverty need, usually from a place of privilege or misunderstanding. We spent the time, energy, and resources working alongside the demographic that we wanted to serve, and that question answered itself.
The only thing that’s going to break the back of generational poverty is a job. And the only way you’re going to get a job is if you have the skills behind it to get the job.
The Summer Lunch, Learn and Play program is our window into the lives of the community that we serve. We provide lunch for anybody who is our kids’ household. Along with this programs’ skill retention focus, NEST uses our summer program as an introductory opportunity to establish a relationship with the caregivers of the children that we serve so that they get to know us and they get to trust us. That trust leads to better engagement from the whole family and student outcomes.
Every student loses some academic skill knowledge over the summer, but for our kids, who typically are 18 months behind, that summer skill loss can be academically devastating. We work so hard during the school year to try and catch our kids up or fill in those knowledge gaps, we just can’t afford for that let that happen.
Our History of Creating Stronger Academic Outcomes for More Students
A strong Summer Lunch, Learn and Play program is key to a successful school year. During this program we have the privilege of getting to know our kids’ caregivers and establish trust with the entire community. Our summer program also affords us the opportunity to stay connected with our kids outside of the school year and attract a lot of new kids that have just moved into the community or kids that wouldn’t have known us because they usually go to daycare after school. In short, this additional time with our kids allows us to reach more students and create positive outcomes. Academically, we’ve been told by intervention specialists (especially for the younger students in second and third grades) that the children that participate in our summer programs begin the following school year without the typical summer academic skill loss, especially in reading.
A strong Summer Lunch and Learn program is key to a successful school year. During this program, we establish trust with the entire community. Many of our students are sent away during the summer to grandparents, so we don’t get to continue with them. But then we also have a lot of new kids that wouldn’t have known us because they usually go to daycare after school. This additional time with new kids allows us to reach more students and create positive outcomes. Academically, we’ve been told by intervention specialists (especially for the young phrase like second and third grades) that the children that were in our summer programs when that when they started school again and they tested them to find out their reading level didn’t miss a beat.
FAQ’s
What is the Summer Lunch and Learn Program?
The Summer Lunch and Learn program is an academic skill retention program designed as a mini summer camp for low-income students in Cincinnati. It includes a healthy lunch, games, crafts, and academic skill retention activities.
Who leads the Summer Lunch and Learn Program?
Along with NEST’s regular staff members, our mid-day summer program provides the opportunity to give many volunteer groups, from other organizations and churches, to come and help and interact with our kids. Our kids love it! These groups often bring fun activities and crafts with them which makes their experience with our kids even more fun for everyone.
Why is the Summer Lunch and Learn Program important?
The Summer Lunch and Learn program is NEST Community Learning Center’s window into the lives of the community they serve. It provides an opportunity to establish a relationship with the caregivers of the children they serve so that they get to know and trust NEST. This trust leads to better engagement from the whole family and student outcomes.
What outcomes can be expected from the Summer Lunch and Learn Program?
The Summer Lunch and Learn program helps prevent academic regression and loss of academic retention over the summer, which is especially important for low-income students who are already 18 months behind. It also creates positive outcomes, including better grades, and academic scores.
What is NEST’s history of creating stronger academic outcomes?
NEST Community Learning Center has a history of creating stronger academic outcomes for more students. The Summer Lunch, Learn and Play program is key to a successful school year. During this program, relationships are built and trust is established with the entire community, which allows NEST to reach more students and create positive outcomes.
Who is eligible for the Summer Lunch and Learn Program?
The Summer Lunch and Learn program is designed for low-income students in Cincinnati who are at risk of academic regression and loss of academic retention over the summer.
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