Enrollment is now open for United Way of Santa Barbara County’s Fun in the Sun, a free six-week summer learning program that provides academic and reading practice, hands-on STEAM activities, field trips and other enrichment activities for more than 400 students currently in second-fifth grades.
The program will take place at all six sites in Santa Barbara County: Franklin Elementary, McKinley Elementary, Hollister Elementary and Aliso Elementary in South County; and Santa Ynez Elementary and Mary Buren Elementary in North County.
Fun in the Sun is a national award-winning summer learning program involving 80 service delivery partners, 38 funding partners, and more than 600 volunteers.
Originally designed to address summer learning loss, Fun in the Sun has expanded its academic curriculum and services to position itself as a comprehensive space to support students and their families throughout the summer.
Students who participate in the program qualify for the federal free/reduced lunch program and are referred to the program from local districts and educators. The program runs 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and provides snacks, breakfast and lunch for all students.
The 2023 program will provide its full spectrum of services, including literacy and academics; community support and engagement; STEAM activities and fields trips; and emotional wellness and enrichment activities.
“During the summer, with Fun in the Sun, students are able to access academics and never have that summer slope,” said Casie Kilgore, principal at Franklin Elementary School. “They also get an amazing experience that our students would never have the opportunity to see and interact with in our own community.
“Fun in the Sun carries us through every summer. It’s helped our kids progress academically, social, and emotionally, and prepared them for a secondary system to make college success not just a dream, but an obtainable reality.”
The largest site will be at Mary Buren Elementary School in Guadalupe, where 104 elementary-aged students and up to 16 leaders-in-training will participate, doubling last year’s enrollment.
District representatives and educators within Guadalupe Union School District have noted that the Fun in the Sun program in the region is currently filling an important need for summer programming for North County students.
This year, United Way will expand its STEAM curriculum through a new partnership with NASA. Participants will be able to participate in the GLOBE Goes to Camp program, which helps students explore nature while fostering environmental stewardship and scientific literacy. Program staff will lead participants through scientific investigations curated by NASA scientists.
Kids will get hands-on experience through field trips, including a visit to a local pier where they will receive instruction and fishing practice with a local professional angler.
Results from recent program years show a 100% success rate in achieving the Fun in the Sun’s primary outcome of maintaining or displaying gains in student reading comprehension, phonics, and/or vocabulary skills, according to United Way.
Middle and high school students are invited to participate in the program through the Leaders-in-Training program, where they will receive leadership and mentorship experience, career exploration, and college preparation opportunities. Students also can receive up to 230 community service hours for their time spent in the program.
United Way is now hiring for the 2023 summer season. Current openings include Fun in the Sun site coordinators, program leaders, and site aides. For application information, visit www.unitedwaysb.org/employment-opportunities.
Fun in the Sun sites and dates:
Mary Van Buren Elementary: June 12-July 21
Santa Ynez Elementary: June 19-July 28
Hollister Elementary: June 19-July 28
Aliso Elementary: June 19-July 28
Franklin Elementary: June 20-July 28
McKinley Elementary: June 20-July 28
For more, visit https://www.unitedwaysb.org/fun-sun. For questions or assistance with enrollment, contact United Way, 805-965-8594 or ygonzalez@unitedwaysb.org.
For questions or assistance with CIT enrollment, contact United Way at 805-965-8591 ext. 106 or nvasquez@unitedwaysb.org.