\n\tAmazon.com<\/a> summer reading
\n\tBarnes & Noble<\/a> summer reading
\n\tDelaware Libraries <\/a>summer reading
\n\tEducation.com<\/a> lists by age
\n\tFree Library of Philadelphia <\/a>lists
\n\tNew Jersey Summer Reading Program<\/a>
\n\tReading Is Fundamental<\/a>
\n\tReading Rockets<\/a>
\n\tScholastic Summer Challenge<\/a>
\n\tTeacherVision.net<\/a> reading list<\/div>\n
\n\tRecognizing this phenomenon, many camps are implementing programs to help combat the so-called “summer slide.” One national effort is the Explore 30<\/a> Camp Reading Program, a two-year-old American Camp Association<\/a> (ACA) initiative that helps camps and youth development organizations jumpstart a reading program. In exchange for encouraging 30 minutes of daily reading, Explore 30 camps can get free children’s books and magazines from leading publishers, incentives for campers who complete reading challenges and activity ideas for incorporating reading into summer fun-and-sun.<\/p>\n \n\tThe Berenstain Bears Go to Camp<\/a>,<\/em> \n\tWhen it joined Explore 30 in 2011, Western Family YMCA Camp Wassaqui <\/a>(formerly Wahoo) in Newark, DE collected donated books from Y members and hired literary specialist Kristy McCrea to build literacy activities into the daily camp schedule. McCrea sees each of the 400 campers for 30 to 45 minutes a few times per week, runs reading challenges and writing sessions, and leads weekly walking trips to the local library. “In some cases this program gave campers their very first experience with a library outside of school and their first library card,” reports Pamela Kennedy, the Y’s associate executive director. Wassaqui campers have many ways to log reading minutes and earn prizes. Sports campers read local newspapers’ sports sections, and older kids read to the younger groups. “We saw the campers begin to bring in their summer reading books and read them during down times or group reading time,” says McCrea.<\/p>\n \n\tAt Camp Towanda<\/a>, a 91-year-old overnight camp in Honesdale, PA campers from 6 to 17 participate in Explore 30 and can get tutored in all school subjects. “We have many teachers on staff who encourage overall life skills,” says owner and director Mitch Reiter. To fulfill the camp’s Explore 30 commitment, “During rest hour and free play we announce and encourage campers to read at our library, on the porch of our house or in our pine tree-shaded reading area,” he explains.<\/p>\n \n\t“Summer enrichment is not about drills and flashcards; it’s about keeping children moving forward in their learning even when school lets out,” says Erin Pudlo, program coordinator at the \n\tIf your child’s camp doesn’t participate in Explore 30, check to see if your local library or school district offers summer reading books to borrow or purchase, and encourage your kids to take books to camp. Libraries and bookstores such as Barnes & Noble often reward children who enroll in their summer reading programs and reach their goals with a free book or gift certificate.<\/p>\n \n\t“Camps have always supported reading and literacy — reading has been a popular rest-hour activity for as long as there has been camp,” says ACA CEO Peg Smith. “But Explore 30 brings greater intentionality to the effort. It allows children to retain and further their reading skills while enjoying the many benefits of a summer camp experience that enriches their lives in valuable ways.”<\/p>\n \n\tEllen Warren writes for the American Camp Association Keystone field office serving Pennsylvania and Delaware. Learn more at Acacamps.org\/keystone <\/a>and Campparents.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Kids’ summer camps are putting academic literacy programs on the sun-and-fun schedule.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5536,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[510,1039,4],"tags":[9218,1699,15726,15720,5166,15723,15724,15719,15722,15721,15725,15718,5345,15727],"yoast_head":"\n
\n\tCowboy Camp<\/a>,<\/em> by Tammi Sauer ![\"\"](\"\/content\/uploads\/data-import\/c31da27d\/Cowboy20Camp.jpg\")
\n\t<\/p>\n
\n\tby Stan and Jan Berenstain
\n\tFroggy Goes to Camp<\/a>,<\/em> by Jonathan London<\/div>\n\n\tBooks &\u2008bunks<\/h3>\n
\n\tRunaway Ralph<\/a><\/em>, by Beverly Cleary
\n\tThe Great Summer Camp
\n\t Catastrophe<\/a>,<\/em> by Jean Van Leeuwen
\n\tThe Summer Camp Mystery<\/a>,<\/em> by
\n\t Gertrude Chandler Warner ![\"\"](\"\/content\/uploads\/data-import\/c31da27d\/Camp20book205.jpg\")
\n\tThe Summer Camp Survival Guide<\/a><\/em>, by Chris Pallatto and Ron DeFazio<\/div>\n
\n\tHoles<\/a><\/em>, by Louisa Sachar
\n\tHow Tia Lola Saved the Summer<\/a><\/em>, by
\n\tJulia Alvarez ![\"\"](\"\/content\/uploads\/data-import\/c31da27d\/PS20I20Still20Hate20It20Here.jpg\")
\n\tLetters From Camp<\/a><\/em>, by Kate Klise
\n\tP.S. I Still Hate It Here<\/a><\/em>, by Diane Falanga<\/div>\n\n\tEnriching experiences<\/h3>\n
\n\tSummer Academy at Ursuline<\/a> in Wilmington, DE. Here, “Children spend the morning engaged in academic enrichment and afternoons are filled with swimming and traditional day camp activities,” explains Pudlo. “Campers are happy to work when it feels like play.”<\/p>\n
\n\tJersey Tomatoes Are the Best<\/em><\/a>, by Maria Padian
\n\tMoose: A Memoir<\/em><\/a>, by Stephanie Klein ![\"\"](\"\/content\/uploads\/data-import\/c31da27d\/Moose.jpg\")
\n\tSleepaway Girls<\/em><\/a>, by Jen Calonita<\/div>\n