The Goleta Lions Club (GLC) in Goleta is partnering with United Way of Santa Barbara County to offer vision and hearing screenings for children attending United Way’s Fun in the Sun camps throughout July.

The Fun in the Sun program is an award-winning summer learning initiative that provides enriching experiences to hundreds of students and families in Santa Barbara County. The camp gives 350 students a chance to enhance their academic, behavioral, and social skills.

As part of its mission, GLC offers programs related to sight, hearing, and children’s causes. Its objective is to promote early detection and treatment of sight and hearing conditions in children, as these issues can adversely affect their social, developmental, and educational well-being

GLC uses state-of-the-art equipment to screen some 3,000 local children annually for sight and hearing loss. While GLC traditionally offers screening services during the school year, its collaboration with United Way’s Fun in the Sun camps allows the service club to expand its outreach into the summer.

United Way has offered Fun in the Sun camps for more than 20 years with the involvement of 80 service delivery partners, 20-plus funding partners, and about 600 volunteers. The program has increased its curriculum to include academic enrichment, a mindfulness program, STEAM activities, mentorship opportunities, environmental education, and field trips.

During summer break, many parents from low-resource communities face the challenge of balancing multiple jobs and limited resources while meeting the needs of their children, United Way said.

Without access to learning tools, nutritious meals, and other support available during the school year, these children are at high risk for summer learning loss, exacerbating the achievement gap between students from low and high-income households, United Way said.

The Fun in the Sun program aims to close this disparity by offering assistance to ensure children’s continued academic growth and success.

For more about GLC, visit https://www.goletalionsclub.org/. For more about United Way, visit https://www.unitedwaysb.org/.