YouthQuest Helps Combat the Summer Slide—at Home

For the first time ever, YouthQuest is going virtual for its summer session.

“It’s important to provide a way for students to continue to learn throughout the summer,” says Nefertari Jones, program director for YouthQuest. “This year, more than ever, we need to help combat the summer slide and prepare students for their next school year.”

The “summer slide” refers to the learning loss students experience when they are not in school. According to a study from the Northwestern Evaluation Association (NWEA), children in 3rd to 5th grades lost, on average, about 20 percent of their school-year gains in reading and 27 percent of their school-year gains in math during summer break.

This year, there is a greater risk for loss with what researchers are calling the “COVID-19 slide.” Due to schools going virtual in early March, students are expected to lose up to 30 percent of their school-year gains in reading and up to 50 percent of the school-year gains in math according to a newer study performed by NWEA.

With that in mind, YouthQuest staff will offer an enriching learning experience for students this summer. While programming will be virtual, students can expect the same high-quality programming they receive each year.

Activities for students include:

• Activity packets delivered on a bi-weekly basis
• Virtual field trips each week
• Video conferencing sessions with students and staff

To keep students learning in and outside of programming, YouthQuest also offers a variety of resources for parents. On the YouthQuest YouTube page, parents can find videos from YouthQuest vendors that teach a variety of topics from Theater to American Sign Language (ASL).

To learn more about YouthQuest, visit yquest.org.

YouthQuest is made possible through the generous support of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and 21st Century Community Learning Centers.