Schools Out…Forever?

“School’s out for the summer!  School’s out, forever?”  Nope.  Take a breath of relief caregivers of school-aged children.  It’s not.  In a couple short months, we’ll be back in action.  You may be wondering, is the “summer slip” a real thing?  Do academic skills actually regress over the summer months?  Yes, they do.  Here are some ideas to keep the kid brain sharp over the long, hot, “I’m boooored” days.

1. Check out the Wild Weather Exhibition at the Saskatchewan Science Centre.  We’ve certainly been experiencing some severe weather across the prairies.  This is a great opportunity to learn the science behind it.  Level up and have your budding meteorologist track weather patterns at home!

https://www.sasksciencecentre.com/events-calendar/2023/4/05/wild-weather 

2. Take advantage of free programs at the library.  Regina Public Library offers a host of summer programs for all ages at their local branches. These unique sessions range from storytelling, read-alouds, language learning, and music. https://www.reginalibrary.ca/attend/programs

3. Experience Saskatchewan farming history with a visit to the Motherwell Homestead National Historic Site.  Tour the stone house, meet farm animals, and watch demonstrations of traditional agricultural practices.  Day camps are also available! 

https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/sk/motherwell

4. Take a hike!  Have your young botanist create their own specimen collection kit, and head out to Wascana Trails for a summer adventure.  See how many different types of plants you can spot.  Collect them, sketch them, and write a detailed description for each.  How does it look?  Feel?  Smell?  Don’t taste it!

5. Prepare a fresh summer meal.  Visit the colourful market gardens in Lumsden and choose some healthy summer produce to prepare a picnic lunch.  Make sure to include all of the food groups on Canada’s Food Guide.  Bon Appetit! 

We don’t have to drive far to experience the many learning opportunities that our beautiful province has to offer.  Don’t forget the sunscreen!

Blog Post by Kimberly Desautels, Educational Strategist