Boys & Girls Clubs help with ‘Summer Brain Gain’

Patrick Wynn is president of Boys & Girls Clubs of North Alabama. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Students always welcome summer break but these months can result in what many educators call ‘learning loss.’ Boys & Girls Clubs of North Alabama has a plan to keep kids in learning mode.

The organization is launching its fun and educational “Summer Brain Gain” program. “Boys & Girls Clubs of North Alabama aims to prevent summer learning loss and keep kids on track for the coming school year,” director of public relations and marketing Josh Bray said.

Summer Brain Gain will be available at 10 clubs across North Alabama. “In some areas, club members showed significant gains, including improvements in reading skills for fifth- and eighth-graders and in math skills for fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders,” Bray said.

“We are committed to ensuring that North Alabama’s youth, especially those who need us most, graduate from high school on time with a plan for the future,” Boys & Girls Clubs President Patrick Wynn said.

Summer Brain Gain consists of six one-week modules with themed activities for elementary, middle and high school students. “Supported by Disney and Old Navy, each module takes a project-based learning approach,” Wynn said.

Youth experience discovery, creative expression, group work and a final project or production. Examples of these modules include “Bio Motion” and “Bug Off!,” in which club youth can explore how living things navigate their environments or examine the incredible amount of diversity in the insect world.

Another goal for Summer Brain Gain is “to keep kids off the streets … and keeping them out of trouble, while advancing their education and providing a safe place for them to learn, socialize, and play,” Bray said.

“Serving nearly 800 kids per day, Boys & Girls Clubs of North Alabama are the leading after-school and summer learning provider, helping close the educational opportunity gap,” Bray said.

For more information, call 256-534-6060 or visit greatfutures.org or bgcnal.com.