CASE Summer Learning Program Provides Skills and Enrichment Activities to Middle School Youth

The CASE Summer Learning Program is having our best summer of programming yet! This summer we are offering four activity-packed weeks of summer programming free of cost to MNPS students.

It’s no secret that middle-schoolers aren't necessarily great at programming their own summer. Left to their own devices, they will spend their time on their devices. This isn’t a knock on middle schoolers. Adults aren't great at it either. The big difference is that middle schoolers are in the midst of a key stage of development, and they really can’t afford to go into mental hibernation for the whole summer.

CASE youth received a tour of a courthouse from Judge Robin Hayes, as well as witnessed court procedures firsthand. Judge Hayes shared about her upbringing of being raised in a single parent home in a trailer park and how she worked hard to get where she is today. She told the youth that she wanted to explain all that happened in the courthouse so that they would only come back as a lawyer, judge, or police officer Youth were inspired by her story!.

That’s where CASE SLP comes in. We offer activities, field trips, and group games designed to ensure continued mental, physical, and social growth. Field trips have been especially helpful in providing beneficial and unique experiences. Recently we got to visit the General Sessions court. Judge Robin Hayes was generous enough to give all the students a tour of the courthouse, observe court proceedings, and even share her own story of hard work and perseverance. CASE youth have also had the opportunity to visit the zoo, go see the movie “Elemental” and discuss relevant themes, and next week will visit the Nissan Car Factory Plant to see firsthand how a car is built!

As with all of our CASE programs, character development plays a key part in programming. This summer we have chosen to focus on the theme of resilience, the ability to grow through challenges. As students have participated in cooking, group games, and other activities, they have been encouraged to think about the benefits of challenge and exertion.

The summer provides a great opportunity to relax, but it shouldn’t be a complete retreat from exploration, challenges, and development. The CASE SLP program strikes the right balance between summer-time fun and growth-promoting activities. Whether it’s kneading pizza dough or learning about how to run a business, CASE SLP wants to make this summer memorable and beneficial to all its participants.