The Benefits of Carver Summer Learning Programs
Carver summer programs provide settings that bring a wide range of benefits to youth, families, and the community. They support social, emotional, cognitive, and academic development, reduce risky behaviors, promote physical health, and provide a safe and supportive environment for children and youth.
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). Participation can lead to improved social and emotional competencies, including prosocial behavior, intrinsic motivation, better concentration efforts, and a higher sense of self-worth. SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions. SEL is an integral part of education and human development that advances educational equity and excellence through authentic school-family-community partnerships to establish learning environments and experiences that feature trusting and collaborative relationships, rigorous and meaningful curriculum and instruction, and ongoing evaluation. SEL can help address various forms of inequity and empower young people and adults to co-create thriving schools and contribute to safe, healthy and just communities.
Academic Support. Attending Carver programs can improve students’ academic performance. Carver programs help students to improve their reading and math grades, and that those who attend more regularly are more likely to make gains.8
School Participation. Attending Carver programs leads to improved class participation once they return to school, better adjustment as young people move to the next phase of schooling, and increased school day attendance and participation.
Safety. Participating in Carver programs leads to increased adult supervision which makes youth feel safer and reduces instances of being left unsupervised with peers. It also means that younger children are supervised by older siblings less often. Adult supervision that is based on developmental relationships promotes positive youth development as it not only promotes personal safety and decreases risky behaviors, but also creates an environment where young people learn better and are able to thrive.
Supporting Working Families. Working families and businesses also benefit from Carver programs that ensure that youth have a safe place to go while parents or guardians are at work. Parents and guardians who do not have access to childcare miss an average of eight days of work per year, and this decreased worker productivity costs businesses as well.
Nutrition and Physical Activity. Carver programs can also improve young people’s dietary snack consumption.
