When the final school bell rings in May or June, students welcome a well-deserved break. But while summer offers time to recharge, it also presents one of the biggest challenges in education: keeping young minds engaged, curious, and learning outside the classroom.

For students in 4th through 7th grade—a critical stage of cognitive, social, and emotional development—how they spend their summer can significantly influence their academic momentum and confidence heading into the next school year. Research shows that sustained learning during the summer months has a measurable impact, and one of the most effective ways to support that growth is through well-designed summer camps.

Below, we explore why continuous learning matters, what the data shows, and how local summer camps—including our very own JA BizTown® and JA Young Entrepreneur® Summer Camps—can help students thrive.

1. The Summer Learning Slide is Real—and Preventable

Without structured enrichment, students lose academic progress gained during the school year. The research is striking:

• Students lose an average of 25–34% of their school-year math gains over the summer, and 17–28% in reading, according to a 2023 Math & Movement review.

• The Wallace Foundation’s landmark National Summer Learning Project found that high-quality summer learning programs significantly improve math, language arts, and social-emotional skills—especially when students attend for two consecutive summers.

This means summer isn’t just “time off”—it’s a window of opportunity. The right summer activities help students continue growing instead of falling behind.

2. The Demand for Summer Camps Is Rising—And Early Registration Matters

As parents increasingly look for ways to keep their children learning and socially engaged, summer camp enrollment has surged:

• A 2023 American Camp Association (ACA) report found that 67% of camps experienced increased enrollment, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

• Many programs reported waitlists increasing by over 25%, especially for academic-enrichment and STEM camps.

• Nearly half of all parents now register for camp before March, according to ACA’s Enrollment Trends Study.

Why early registration is essential:

• High-demand camps (STEM, leadership, entrepreneurship) fill up early

• Families get better scheduling choices

• Scholarships or early-bird discounts are more available

• Early preparation helps students get excited and ready to learn

If summer learning is the goal, acting early gives families the best chance of securing meaningful opportunities.

3. Summer Learning Supports Social-Emotional Growth

Learning isn’t only academic. Summer provides space for students to grow socially and emotionally—skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.

Research shows:

• Children in summer programs experience increased self-esteem, independence, problem-solving ability, and leadership, according to the American Camp Association.

• Harvard Graduate School of Education reports that camps offer supportive environments for confidence-building, relationship development, and healthy risk-taking.

• The National Academies of Sciences highlight that well-structured summer programs “promote physical and mental health, social-emotional development, and academic learning.”

For 4th–7th graders—who are navigating identity-building, peer relationships, and early independence—these benefits are especially impactful.

4. Why the Middle-Grades Years Are Crucial for Summer Learning

Ages 9–13 represent a formative stage:

• Students begin identifying interests, strengths, and future career ideas

• They’re ready for more independence—but still benefit from guidance

• They need structured opportunities to practice responsibility, collaboration, and leadership

• Summer enrichment boosts confidence heading into later middle school and early adolescence

This age group is naturally curious. When given hands-on learning experiences during the summer, they flourish.

5. What Makes a High-Quality Summer Learning Experience?

Research consistently identifies key factors that make summer programs effective:

• Purposeful learning aligned with real-world skills

• Small group sizes and strong adult relationships

• Experiential and hands-on activities

• Structured independence that builds confidence

• Safe, supportive environments that encourage exploration

These characteristics turn summer from simply “time off” into meaningful growth.

6. Our Local Summer Camps Designed for Hands-On Learning and Growth

Junior Achievement is proud to offer two high-quality summer camp options that emphasize financial literacy, entrepreneurship, life skills, and experiential learning—all proven to combat the summer slide and ignite curiosity.

JA BizTown® Summer Camp

Students run an entire simulated city—managing storefronts, banking, leadership roles, teamwork, and money. It’s perfect for hands-on learners and students fascinated by how their local economy works. Learn More

JA Young Entrepreneur® Summer Camp

Young innovators get to create and launch their own business ideas, learning budgeting, marketing, teamwork, and presentation skills. Ideal for creative thinkers and budding leaders. Learn More

Both camps combine real-world learning with fun, collaboration, and confidence-building—all essential for combating summer learning loss.

7. Other Excellent Summer Camp Options in Our Region

Our community offers additional programs that support continued learning:

• STEM camps (robotics, coding, engineering)

• Arts and cultural camps (visual arts, theater, music, creative writing)

• Museum-based camps

• Parks & Recreation programs

• Sports and leadership camps that build teamwork and resilience

Each of these supports different dimensions of summer learning—academic, social, emotional, and physical.

8. How Families Can Make the Most of Summer Learning

• Register early—high-quality camps fill quickly

• Encourage your child to try something new

• Build excitement by discussing what they hope to learn

• Set goals before camp (“What skill do you want to try?”)

• Reflect afterward (“What surprised you? What will you use in school next year?”)

These steps help students get the most from their experience.

Final Thoughts: Summer Learning Creates Stronger Students

Summer is more than a break—it’s a powerful season for growth. When students stay engaged through hands-on learning, meaningful enrichment, and structured independence, they return to school more confident, more curious, and more prepared.

High-quality summer camps—especially those designed around real-world skills and exploration—help students avoid learning loss and build the foundation for long-term success.

We invite your family to explore JA BizTown® Summer Camp and JA Young Entrepreneur® Summer Camp as exciting options to keep your child’s learning alive this summer. Their future selves will thank you.