Keeping kids engaged and learning during the summer – 2021

It’s been a challenging year but as the school year is coming to a close, we’ve curated a list of options to keep kids engaged and learning during the summer. The list is smaller this year due to Covid-19 face-2-face safety guidelines but here are some options we’ve found throughout Idaho that offer summer learning programs. Click on the linked titles for more information on each program.

State-wide

Idaho Digital Learning Alliance Summer Courses

Idaho Digital Learning Alliance courses are online classes for all Idaho students. Idaho Digital Learning Alliance courses create flexibility in scheduling and access to dual credit or Advanced Placement courses for college credit, opportunity to graduate early, and recover credits. All courses align to Idaho Core Content Standards and are facilitated by an Idaho Certified, Highly Qualified Teacher.


Micron Tech Camp – An online STEM experience

A VIRTUAL Science and Engineering Camp for students who have completed 7th or 8th grade, presented by the Micron Foundation.

Tech Camp is a three-day, three hours per day virtual experience that also focuses on hands-on science and engineering activities related to the semiconductor industry. Registered campers will receive a kit containing all the materials needed for the hands-on activities led by Micron professionals. The camp will be provided using the Zoom platform; students will need to have access to a laptop or chrome-book device and reliable internet connection.


Northern Idaho

University of Idaho Dig’nIT Camps

The Dig’nIT camp program is the first step in the University of Idaho Coeur d’Alene mission to build a pipeline of leaders in STEM fields. Campers experience the excitement of subjects ranging from chemistry to coding through interactive classes, hands-on experiments and team building.


North Idaho College – Camp NIC

Various camps are offered throughout the summer that include The Magical World of Harry Potterville, Amazing Acrylic Art, Creating Comics, Cooking Around the World, and Itching to be Stitching.


Southern Idaho

The Cabin Idaho – Summer Writing Camps

Week-long camp of challenging creative writing enrichment for kids entering grades 3-12 led by professional teaching-writer in poetry, fiction, memoir, journalism, & plays. Scholarships available.


Idaho Shakespeare Festival – Summer Camps

A super fun, game-filled class where students are immersed in kid-friendly versions of some of Shakespeare’s wackiest plays!


University of Idaho Boise Summer Tech Camps

Coding, game development, robotics, and creative courses for kids and teens.


Boise State University Computer Science Summer Camps

GenCyber Cybersecurity Summer Camp for Idaho High School Students (Girls Only) and GenCyber Cybersecurity Summer Camp for Idaho High School Students (Boys and Girls)


Eastern Idaho

Space Camp at Rigby Rockets

Students will explore how astronomers use landers and rovers to explore space. Students 10-12 will investigate how to make a lander to protect astronauts/rovers as they land. Students 13-15 will have the opportunity to assemble and/or program realistic rovers that can explore “unknown worlds”


Madison Cares Summer Camp

Summer camp is a fun interactive opportunity for children to learn social skills, coping strategies, and to make new friends. We foster an activity rich environment through games, hands on experiences, and field trips. Through our summer camp program we hope to be able to help our students gain confidence in the skills they have learned and make new friends. The cost of camp is $55 per child per session. A child may sign up for a maximum of two camps. Camp is available for children entering 1st grade-5th grade.


Maggie’s Place Summer Day Camps 2021- Storybook Summer

Each week’s theme is inspired by a children’s literary classic, such as Harry Potter, Stuart Little, Where the Wild Things Are, Magic Tree House, Charlotte’s Web, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Alice and Wonderland, Chronicles of Narnia, Percy Jackson, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the Jungle Book, and A to Z Mysteries.

​In addition to classic, book themed weeks, Maggie’s Place Summer Day Camps include weekly field trips, morning and afternoon snacks, a camp t-shirt and weekly books to take home.

 

Check back frequently as more information may be available.

Serving Rural Students in Idaho

Idaho has always been classified as a rural state, 479 miles long and 305 miles wide.  Idaho fits snugly between economic urban powerhouse states Washington and Oregon and more rural neighbors Montana and Wyoming. The geographic placement of Idaho creates a unique situation when providing equal education access and opportunity to all students throughout the state. Idaho’s population is comprised of 44 counties – seven urban and 37 rural – as classified by the Idaho Department of Labor. Idaho is anything but a ‘one size fits all’ state.

As time passes more people are leaving rural areas out of economic necessity such as seeking better job opportunities, education access and health care amenities. Migration out-flow data shows that rural counties have rates of out-migration – up to 17 percent annually. Though these changes mimic national trends, rural communities throughout Idaho are still active and pushing to thrive. One of the assets Idaho Rural Schools are able to access is the Idaho Digital Learning which currently is supporting 100% of the Idaho Public Schools by providing access and opportunity for students to take engaging and rigorous classes regardless of where they live or the schools that they go to. Approximately three quarters of districts in Idaho are considered rural as defined in Idaho statute. These districts, and the schools within them, struggle to retain teachers and address technology needs in order to deliver effective instruction. To support rural districts and schools, Idaho Digital Learning is able to offer solutions to the challenges rural districts face. During the 2017-2018 school year, Idaho Digital Learning served 31,106 student enrollments and offered 256 unique semester courses.

For many rural students, opportunities such as Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Credit (Concurrent Credit) courses are not available at their local school. Through Idaho Digital Learning, students currently have access to 24 Advanced Placement courses and 79 dual credit courses, each of which have been aligned and approved for college credit through an in-state higher ed institution. By leveraging these course opportunities, students can accelerate their education and lower the cost of their college degrees.

Idaho Digital Learning is also a proud partner with Idaho Career and Technical Education to provide CTE Digital that leverages online learning to provide access to CTE programs for all students across the state.Students who complete a full CTE program can test for a technical certificate and exit high school ready to enter their chosen career field. Students can also enter a college or technical program and work toward the next level of certification in their career field.

Rural school districts often are not able to hire local teachers in a particular content area either due to funding constraints or lack of available certified instructors in their region. A critical growth area for Idaho Digital Learning has been a custom solution designed to provide an instructor for classes to address this lack of rural capacity.The custom solution is a joint partnership between an individual school and Idaho Digital Learning where online classes are taken during the school day inside a proctored lab at the local school. For example, many of the small rural Idaho school districts are not able to find certified computer science and math instructors, therefore, Idaho Digital Learning is able to provide the online instructor, curriculum, and student support for their students. The content is also serving as classes taken in part, to the students experience in learning online and to prepare them for success in college and career.

Idaho Digital Learning also recently concluded a three year Rural Utility Services (RUS) grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The focus of this grant was to provide technology carts to sixteen schools throughout the state to enhance technology integration and utilization. The carts are being leveraged to provide access to direct instruction in STEM-based courses.  Schools and districts receiving the technology carts can also leverage the technology to help meet a variety of student and teacher needs.

In addition to the technology carts, Idaho Digital Learning has also purchased and installed a NetLab. This technology allows students remote access to a server to complete hands-on activities needed to complete CISCO Academy courses, Cybersecurity courses, and other networking courses. Access to this technology will again provide students with equity and access to opportunities, regardless of their zip code.

Keeping kids engaged and learning during the summer

As the school year is coming to a close, now is the time to start looking into options to keep your kids engaged during the summer. Here are some options throughout Idaho that offer summer learning programs.

State-wide

 

Idaho Digital Learning Summer Courses

Idaho Digital Learning Academy courses are online classes for all Idaho students. Idaho Digital Learning courses create flexibility in scheduling and access to dual credit or Advanced Placement courses for college credit, opportunity to graduate early, and recover credits. All courses align to Idaho Core Content Standards and are facilitated by an Idaho Certified, Highly Qualified Teacher.

https://www.idahodigitallearning.org/


Idaho Commission for Libraries Summer Reading Programs

Summer Reading programs are designed to help children maintain or improve their reading readiness when they go back to school. Idaho Commission for Libraries (ICfL) Summer Reading coordinators strive to provide libraries with summer program resources based on sound research and best practices.

http://libraries.idaho.gov/landing/summer-reading


Idaho State University Summer Reading Programs

Summer is the key opportunity to develop reading and study skills for the upcoming school year.
In this fun summer program, your son or daughter will double reading speed and become a stronger reader and better student.

https://cetrain.isu.edu/dce/reading/


University of Idaho Extension 4-H Youth Development

4-H prepares young people for challenges in their community and the world. Using research-based programs with positive youth development, 4-H youth get the hands-on, real world experience they need to become leaders.

https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/4h


Kidscamps.com

https://www.kidscamps.com/summer_camps/idaho-summer-camps.html

 

Northern Idaho

 

Education Information Center of Coeur d’Alene Summer Programs

A list of summer camps and resources in the Coeur d’Alene area.

http://edinfocentercda.com/Blog-News-Links/categoryid/36/After-School-Summer-Programs


LCSC Kids’ College

LCSC Kids’ College is a short-format summer program for youth ages 6 through 15. Kids’ College strives to offer the highest quality educational courses for youth in the Lewis-Clark Valley. Classes are scheduled Monday through Thursday.

http://www.lcsc.edu/kids-college/

 

Southern Idaho

 

Treasure Valley YMCA Summer Camps & Programs

YMCA programs and camps nurture and celebrate the social,-emotional, cognitive, and physical development of all youth, resulting in the BEST SUMMER EVER! So join us on a summer journey at your favorite Y location. We’ll see you here!

http://www.ymcatvidaho.org/programs/youth-programs/summer-camps-programs/


Boise State University River Site Field Trips

The Intermountain Bird Observatory is embarking on a new project along the Boise River, near the Barber Pool Conservation Area. Since the spring of 2015 IBO has been using 20 acres of riverside habitat to provide research and education opportunities to students and families throughout the Treasure Valley.

https://ibo.boisestate.edu/rivervisitors/


Boise State University eCamp Summer Programs

Students who are currently in 8th or 9th grade can use hands-on activities and projects involving self discovery, cooperative learning, critical thinking, and problem solving while living on campus in a college dormitory.

http://coen.boisestate.edu/k-12/summer-programs/


Discovery Center of Idaho Summer Camps

We host a variety of events here at the Discovery Center of Idaho: Young Discoverers, Adult Nights, and friendly challenges among members and frequent visitors. No matter the age or activity, we have a lot of fun and are certain we have something on our calendar sure to entertain and create lasting memories.

http://www.dcidaho.org/summer-camps/


College of Southern Idaho Summer Camps

College for Kids opportunities.

http://communityed.csi.edu/youth/youthcamps.asp


College of Southern Idaho Summer Career Camp

The CSI Summer Career Camp will introduce up to 200 middle and high school students to different career pathways through hands-on leadership activities. Students will spend time on the CSI Ropes Course, and in the manufacturing, Coding and Culinary Arts departments on CSIs Campus.

www.csi.edu/TransitionCoordinators/career-summer-camps/

Eastern Idaho

 

Idaho Falls Zoo Education Programs

Explore the wonderful world of animals in depth and challenge your understanding of the sciences.

https://www.idahofallsidaho.gov/830/Summer-Zoo-Education-Programs


Idaho State University College of Arts & Letters Summer Programs

The 2018 CAMP will take place on June 11 and 12. CAMP (Communication, Art, Media, and Persuasion) is a two-day college experience for high school students. Students stay in on-campus housing, participate in workshops in ISU’s state-of-the-art facilities, tour and experience the ISU campus, and develop relationships with ISU faculty.

https://www.isu.edu/cal/summer-programs/


Idaho State Summer Camps

A list of summer camps available through Idaho State University.

https://www.isu.edu/imnh/imnh-events/summer-camps/

Making Computer Science Accessible to All

The Virtual Learning Leadership Alliance is continuing to post a weekly blog on online and blended learning topics. The Virtual Learning Leadership Alliance (VLLA) is an association of the chiefs of some of the most innovative virtual programs in the US. Consisting largely of leading state virtual schools, and several outstanding consortia (http://www.virtuallearningalliance.org/about/). The member organizations serve well over a quarter of a million online course enrollments annually. Idaho Digital Learning has been a member since its inception and takes the lead in many of the organization work groups.

The latest blog is “Making Computer Science Accessible to All,” from Idaho Digital Learning. If you are interested in following along as all partner states share their knowledge of elearning, subscribe by provide your name and email.

Here is an excerpt from the post…

The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that computer science-related jobs will be among the fastest growing and highest paying over the next decade. A large majority of parents (84%), teachers (71%), principals (66%) and superintendents (65%) agree that offering Computer Science is more important or just as important as required core courses like math, science, history and English. A majority of educators feel that students should be required to take Computer Science in schools when it is available (60% of teachers, 62% of principals and 56% of superintendents agree).[1] Yet a recent analysis of national data shows that 22 percent of 12th graders say they’ve never taken a computer science course and more than half of all high school seniors do not have access to computer science in their school.[2]

Online learning programs, such as Idaho Digital Learning, are tackling the problem of providing access to computer science for all students in Idaho. In 2014 the Idaho State Board of Education and House Education Committee approved a rule change that allows students to take dual credit or AP computer science as core math or science credit versus as an elective credit – providing an incentive for students to explore the field of Computer Science. In addition, there are other innovative virtual school statewide online learning programs throughout the nation that are providing students with opportunities. For example, as part of a statewide initiative to make computer science available throughout every high school, the Arkansas Governor requested that Virtual Arkansas make online Computer Science available, free, to all schools throughout the state.

To find out more of what Idaho Digital learning is doing to provide Computer Science education, continue reading the complete blog post at http://www.virtuallearningalliance.org/blog/

Idaho Digital Learning Middle and High School Health Curriculum

The health courses offered by Idaho Digital Learning for both Middle and High School are based on the foundational concept of health and wellness that is illustrated by the Health Triangle: Physical, Mental/Emotional, and Social Health. This concept reveals the interwoven relationship of these three aspects of a person’s health; and emphasizes that what happens in each area, impacts all others.

Our courses provide instruction relating to mental/emotional health, social health, and physical health. Units target nutrition, fitness, hygiene, and how lifestyle choices in these areas have a direct and profound impact on a person’s health. Other units target how to build and maintain good relationships, communication skills, conflict resolution, and decision making.

Mental health, stress, and coping strategies are covered in the curriculum; and risk taking behaviors identified, as well as ways to lower risks that impact aspects of health and wellness. Basic First Aid Skills, and facts about infectious disease, STD’s, and non-infectious disease are included in the curriculum. Finally, facts regarding substance abuse as it relates to alcohol, illegal drugs, prescription drugs, and tobacco products are presented.

The main difference between high school and middle school health courses are these: Middle School Health includes one lesson in every unit that covers one body system; like cardiovascular, respiratory, and the immune system. There is a greater emphasis given to direct instruction on risk taking and types of risks in middle school. The thought behind this is that if students can learn to identify risks early in their development, they will have the skills and information they need to make better choices and avoid unnecessary risks.

Middle School Health has an emphasis on puberty, while High School Health emphasizes refusal skills, contraceptives, and pregnancy. Both have some content on STD’s, with a greater emphasis in the High School Health course. Content is presented in age appropriate ways in each course.

Cool Tools: Content & Interactivities

Cool Tools logoIdaho Digital Learning’s Cool Tools Blog Series wraps up with content and interactivity resources for all subjects. As an added bonus we have included resources specific to Social Studies, Humanities, Math and Science. We hope you have found this useful and informative. Be looking for future resource series.

Social Studies & Humanities

Math

Science

  • Elevators: Helpful Engineering Games
  • BiomodelChemistry and Biology Interactives.  Can be run on a tablet if “Jsmol” option is selected.
  • The Physics AviaryA free collection of games, tools and virtual labs for physics.
  • Code.orgUse free curriculum to teach students to problem solve, code,  and apply creative thinking within the context of science or math.  For further PD using code.org curriculum visit the Idaho Digital Learning PD Portal.
  • NASASearchable database of lesson content and activities.
  • ChemCollective Murder MysteryStudents play an Flash based free “murder mystery” game using their chemistry skills.  Complete with teacher resources and Interactive movies and clues to guide students along.
  • Kinetic CityInteractive Science simulations and games (good for Grades 1-6)  Check out the Nastro Virus!
  • Seer Training ModulesAnatomy/Physiology training modules from the National Cancer Institute.  Complete with graphics and quizzes.

Cool Tools: Assessment & Collaboration

Cool Tools logoIdaho Digital Learning’s Cool Tools Blog Series continues. This month we’ll be focusing on assessment and collaboration tools for any and all subjects.

  • Jeopardy Rocks – With this tool you are able to create a jeopardy game. Example
  • EdPuzzle – Add videos that give the ability to pause to insert teacher questions.
  • Blabberize – This is a fun tool that adds audio to images, making them speak.
  • Poll Everywhere – This is an instant polling tool. Smart phones or devices are required.
  • Answer Garden – Create a live poll where answers are returned in Wordle format. Example
  • MathEqualsLove Blog – Free Exit Ticket templates. Good for K-12.
  • Fakebook – This tool creates fake Facebook feeds. An unusual format for allow students to “show what they know”. Example
  • GoFormative – This site provides assignments so you can see what students are doing in real-time and provide feedback. Demo
  • Tozzl – This tool is similar to a shared Pinterest board for safe collaboration. No registration required. Only students with link and a password (provided by the teacher) can use.
  • Padlet – A content creation and collaboration space.
  • Google Apps – Share with emails on version and allow people to contribute instead of creating multiple variations of the same item.

Cool Tools: Study & Tech Tools

Cool Tools logoIdaho Digital Learning’s Cool Tools Blog is the beginning of what we hope will be a valuable set of digital tools. These resources cover a wide variety of information on assessment, collaboration and content, and focus on specific content areas, which include Math, Science, Social Studies and Humanities. First up, Study & Tech Tools!

Study Tools

  • Video Notes – All notes you type are synced with the video and time tag. Here is a demo of a Final Product.
  • Ninja Words – Ninja Words offers fast dictionary look up that guesses what you probably wanted if you accidentally spell the word wrong.
  • Creative Commons Attribution Examples – This site has examples of how to correctly attribute OER Resources.
  • Photos for Class – Photos for Class has an OER photo search that appends the attribution to the image when you download it.
  • Bibme – Bibme is a free online citation builder. Students can use this to help build their annotated bibliographies.
  • Google News Lab – Google News Lab is a Google tool specifically designed for journalists.
  • instaGrok – instaGrok is an interactive search engine that presents students with information by topic in multiple media formats. Students can take notes, journal, and even take a quiz on the content.
  • Wolfram Alpha – Part search engine, part calculator.

Tech Tools

Stay tuned for our next Cool Tools Blog: Content Tools

Idaho Digital Learning Professional Development Virtual Support

Our Idaho Digital Learning Professional Development team has launched a new Idaho Digital Learning monthly virtual support, called #OffroadPD, with strategies, videos, and resources for blended and online learning that support instructional technology integration. These support documents have been inspired by common questions and needs that our team has collected from our work with schools and districts around the state.  

Each month you will find an #OffroadPD Youtube video that will introduce the topic. Within the description of the video, you will find a link to a support document with a variety of resources for you to explore.

We would like to invite you and your team to join us in our Google+ Community, where we have an area dedicated to #OffroadPD virtual monthly supports, a place to connect with others around the state, and a place to ask questions to a community of educators who are incorporating blended and/or mastery learning into their classroom. Please feel free to share with any educator, who might benefit from this collaboration. Check it out here!

Starting February 1st, we will have a technology integration tip of the day posted in our Idaho Digital Learning Professional Development G+ Community.

Join us on Youtube and Twitter!

We are excited to share these resources with you all!

Feature Presentation

 

Archived Virtual Support ​

January #OffroadPD Video – https://youtu.be/jSnOXvlVSS4
January Virtual Support – Blended/Mastery

December #OffroadPD Video – https://youtu.be/rea0OvSyk18
December Virtual Support – Blended/Mastery

November #OffroadPD Video – https://youtu.be/EbpdkvgthEY
November Virtual Support – Blended/Mastery