New Lower Merion 'Academic' Summer Camp Keeps Kids On Track

WYNNEWOOD, PA – As a former elementary school teacher and reading specialist, Thrive Literacy Center founder Bridget Nolen wants to bring back the joy of reading and writing.

"Traditionally, summer is considered to be a time to put school behind you and get outside," she said. "Play sports, swim, head to the beach...However, a phenomenon we’ve come to know as “Summer Slide”, the loss of reading and writing skills over the summer, can have significant impact on your child’s success in the next school year."

Thrive Summer Literacy Camps are designed to keep children on track throughout the summer months by dedicating just the right amount of time to intensive, yet enjoyable, practice with reading & writing.

Nolen said that she thinks a “a week’s worth of hands on, engaginginstruction with the right books, the right teacher, and in the right nurturing learning environment is exactly what kids need to prevent summer slide.”

“Research tells us that on average, children lose one month of grade level equivalency on achievement test scores over the summer vacation,” she added. “One study has found that having students read four or five books during the summer months can prevent or offset summer learning loss. Specifically, students who were given enjoyable, differentiated instruction along with being matched with books that are on their level and related to their interests, had higher reading comprehension scores and their experiences offset summer learning loss.”

Thrive currently offers programs at Belmont Hills Elementary and Lynnewood Elementary as well as early literacy classes and small group tutoring at NestPhilly, Penn Wynne Library and Radnor Memorial Library.

Thrive Literacy Camps will begin June 13th and continue throughout the summer months in partnership with Haverford Township at Haverford CREC, West Chester Parks & Recreation Department at the Borough Building in West Chester and at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in the heart of Wayne.

Camp is one week long, 3 hours per day, AM & PM sessions broken out into grade level.

There will be no more than 6 children per session.

To register, see here.

Image of Bridget Nolen courtesy Thrive.