Why Summer Learning Matters More Than Ever
We are a few weeks into this year’s Summer Bridge program, and we have already witnessed the transformational power of an intentional summer. As we welcome new students each week, we’re reminded that summertime is about so much more than just a break from school. Summer is a vital opportunity to keep young minds engaged and inspired.
The summer months are an important time to support student success and close the opportunity gap, providing enriching experiences that help level the playing field. That’s why programs like our annual Summer Bridge program matter. It turns downtime into a season of discovery. As we reflect on the impact of these first few weeks, it’s the perfect moment to recognize a national movement that champions this very mission: National Summer Learning Week.
What is National Summer Learning Week and Why Does It Matter?
Every July, National Summer Learning Week highlights the importance of keeping kids learning, healthy, and safe during the summer months. It’s a week to recognize how high-quality summer programs play a key role in helping students thrive and narrowing the opportunity gap.
For many young people from under-resourced communities, summer doesn’t come with camps, travel, or enrichment opportunities. Instead, it can mean more time alone, more food insecurity, and more learning loss. Without access to engaging opportunities, the gap in experiences and resources between students only gets wider when school is out. The National Summer Learning Association details how this “achievement gap” has long-term effects on academic success, confidence, and well-being.
National Summer Learning Week serves as a reminder to communities, educators, and policymakers to invest in programs that address these issues. It’s also a celebration of the schools and organizations across the country that are demonstrating what’s possible when we make summer a season of opportunity for all students, regardless of where they live.
How We Celebrate National Summer Learning Week at PBC
At the Princeton-Blairstown Center, we don’t just talk about the power of summer learning, we live it each day. Outside of this annual one-week celebration of summer learning, we create hands-on, engaging experiences that reflect the heart of the National Summer Learning Week movement all summer long. Students participate in literacy activities, explore STEM through environmental science projects, and practice leadership through outdoor team challenges.
One of the cornerstones of our summer programming is the Summer Bridge Program. Launched in 2015, the program stands out with its small group approach and intentionally designed curriculum. Over the course of five days and four nights, student cohorts of 10-12 are paired with a highly trained facilitator and school or agency chaperones. Together, they participate in social-emotional learning grounded in hands-on, experiential, and adventure-based activities.
Each day, students engage in:
Academic enrichment in Literacy, STEM, and STEAM lessons
Waterfront activities (swimming, canoeing, kayaking)
Leadership, team-building, and problem-solving challenges
Student-choice recreational and STEAM sessions
Restoration duties that build responsibility and community
Evenings are anchored by reflective campfire circles that open and close the program, celebrating accomplishments and creating space for personal reflection.
Through Summer Bridge, we’ve seen campers break out of their shells and transform into more confident, curious, and adventurous versions of themselves while exploring nature and learning new skills. We’ve seen students light up during reflective campfire circles and cheer each other on while conquering their fears. These opportunities for growth, connection, and confidence-building also allow them to have fun. This is how we celebrate National Summer Learning Week: by giving students the space and support to thrive and be kids.
A Week of Firsts, Freedom, and Discovery
Summer Bridge is a place of discovery as much as learning. For many of our students, their week at Summer Bridge is filled with firsts, whether it’s the first time they paddle a canoe, complete a high ropes course, or spend days unplugged and immersed in nature. However, it’s also one of the few spaces where kids can just be kids. They get the chance to run, laugh, explore, and play.
On our Campus, we strive to create an environment where students can slow down, reflect, and consider things they may not have had the space or support to think about before. For some, it’s the first time they've truly considered what they enjoy, what they want to do, or what kind of community they want to be a part of. Experiences like these help plant the seeds for healthier habits and a deeper connection to the world around them.
Why Summer Bridge Continues to Matter
This is why summer programs like Princeton-Blairstown Center’s Summer Bridge are so critical. Our students learn by doing. They transform through nature-based activities that challenge them to take healthy risks, work as a team, and reflect on who they are and who they want to become.
In just a few days, we’ve watched students face their fears on the high ropes course, support one another through group problem-solving, and share stories that build community and trust. These aren’t just summer memories. They’re the building blocks of self-esteem, empathy, and lifelong learning.
Summer Bridge is offered at no cost to students, ensuring all young people have access to transformational learning experiences. Donations to the Princeton-Blairstown Center directly support programs like Summer Bridge, making it possible for hundreds of students to return to school each fall more confident, connected, and prepared.
When we invest in programs like Summer Bridge, we’re giving students more than a summer. We’re giving them tools for the future and a chance at all the possibilities they deserve.