Fighting summer learning loss with a literacy-focused camp at UNI
Fighting summer learning loss with a literacy-focused camp at UNI
The University of Northern Iowa’s support for teachers extends beyond training educators.
Through a variety of summer camps led by experts, UNI helps combat summer learning loss in students. Not only is this good for students, but it’s also good for teachers who can experience a more seamless transition in teaching students from one year to the next.
One new program this year, Camp Activ8, has a special focus on improving literacy through engaging activities like geocaching, science experiments, art projects, hip hop literacy and more.
The camp is the brainchild of Marissa Schweinfurth, professional development coordinator for the Richard O. Jacobson Center for Comprehensive Literacy.
“A passion of mine is really helping kids get excited about learning in all different aspects and not just sitting in a chair and reading and writing and doing math,” said Schweinfurth. “I want to do all we can to engage them. With Camp Activ8, the whole goal is to really get kids excited to jump back into learning and into the school year.”
Schweinfurth has partnered with Denise Tallakson, an assistant professor of instruction in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction, and Jennifer Onuigbo, community relations manager for the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, to bring her vision to life. The group has tapped into faculty and community experts to serve as presenters for the camp.
As someone who has a background as a classroom teacher, Schweinfurth has seen firsthand why camps like Camp Activ8 are necessary. Teachers and students become burned out with school by the time summer hits, which makes them want to pause their learning endeavors while they are away from school. Camp Activ8 combats this by focusing on activities that are not only educational but also engaging.
“Our teachers are doing such a great job throughout the school year,” said Schweinfurth. “Sometimes their hands are tied, and they don't get to do as many fun and engaging activities as they would like. So if we have that chance to do that for them and help get them geared up, then we want to do whatever we can to help support our teachers.”
Camp Activ8 is created for students entering grades 3-6, but Schweinfurth hopes if the camp is successful, they can expand to more grades. The camp takes place Monday through Thursday on UNI’s campus, and the final day will culminate in a block party with live music, food trucks and the students showcasing what they learned at camp for their families.
Although Schweinfurth said the literacy component of some of the activities may not be obvious, she hopes the camp will expand what parents and students think of as literacy. This goes hand-in-hand with the Jacobson Center’s mission to “promote comprehensive literacy of all learners by transforming literacy education through expanding pre-service and in-service teachers’ literacy knowledge and instructional expertise in professional learning communities.”
“There is literacy surrounding us every single day,” said Schweinfurth. “It's just in different forms. So literacy is reading and writing, but it's also so much more.”
Through a grant from Veridian Credit Union, Camp Activ8 is able to offer 10 camperships to Waterloo students for free. In the spring, Veridian Credit Union also honored Schweinfurth, Tallakson and Onuigbo with the Veridian Community Engagement Award to recognize their partnership with the community to make Camp Activ8 happen.
“There is literacy surrounding us every single day,” said Schweinfurth. “It's just in different forms. So literacy is reading and writing, but it's also so much more.”
The camp is also a chance to provide UNI students with hands-on experiences as intern counselors. Schweinfurth hopes pre-service teachers in particular will apply to these positions, which are posted on Handshake.
“Out of the eight camp presenters, five of them have been in the classroom teaching or are currently teachers,” said Schweinfurth. “So this is an opportunity for UNI students to learn from an educator, and it gives them some good skills to be able to work with students. It’s something fun. Whenever you get to spread the love of learning, regardless of if they're 21 or 20 or 8 or 9, it’s going to have an impact.”
Schweinfurth said parents of campers have already expressed excitement over the opportunity. By the end of Camp Activ8, she believes campers will be better equipped to start school in the fall and will have a little extra love for learning.
“We want them to reframe their mindset around literacy and how it can be fun and how it can be engaging,” she said. “I think this is a neat way to be able to do that.”
Community members can register online for Camp Activ8, which will run Aug. 5-8. There are 60 spots total for campers.
