After School / Summer Program
EXPLORING SUMMER PROGRAM
JO’S Learning Academy Exploring Summer program provides school-age children with a wide range of recreational and educational activities to strengthen and enhance their social, physical and cognitive development. According to educational research low-income children lose some of their academic gains during summer because they are not actively engaged in activities to help them retain what they learned during school year.
JO’S Exploring Summer program is structured to give children access to both recreational and educational activities with a focus on retention of their literacy, reading and math skills and increase their understanding of nature, art and the larger community.
SUMMER READING PROGRAM
Children six years of age and older participate in Milwaukee Public Library “Super Reader” program at Washington Park Library. The program provides an opportunity for children to earn prizes for reading a specific number of books during summer. The children walk weekly to library to select age appropriate books from suggested reading list. JO’S also holds a celebration to celebrate children’s success in summer reading program.
Weekly Field Trips
JO’S Learning Academy has a long-standing tradition of offering weekly field trips to fun, educational and exciting places throughout greater Milwaukee area. During summer these are some of places children in Exploring Summer program visit include:
• Monkey Joe’s
• Roller Skating
• Bowling
• Out & About Milwaukee – Behind the Bank Teller @ Seaway Bank
• Fondy Farmer’s Market
• A day at Miller Park – Milwaukee Brewers Game
• Tour Jelly Bean Factory
• Movie @ Marcus Theaters
• Washington Park Library
• Urban Ecology Center @ Washington Park
• Milwaukee County Domes
• Milwaukee Public Museum
• Activities @ Marcus Center for Performing Arts
• Milwaukee County Zoo
• Visit to Fire Station
• Betty Brinn Children’s Museum
Transportation for all field trips is provided by Durham Transportation Services. Durham buses meet all State of Wisconsin Licensing regulations.
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
JO’S Exploring Summer program includes a variety of recreational activities to strengthen children’s gross and fine motor skills. Some of the daily activities include:
• Children will learn how to play 4 Square
• Volleyball
• Kick ball
• Soccer
• Introduction to Tennis @ Washington Park
• Board games – chess, checkers, Scrabble and Monopoly
• A day @ Washington Park
• Ice Cream Socials
• End of Summer Talent Show
COMMUNITY GARDEN PROJECT “GROWING THE SEEDS OF KNOWLEDGE”
JO’S Learning Academy received funding to support development of community garden project to introduce school-age children in Exploring Summer program to urban gardening. The children work collaboratively with teachers, parents, community residents and volunteers to design, construct, plant and maintain 8 raised bed gardens in rear of JO’S 4801 West North Avenue site.
The overall goal of the Community Garden project is to increase children’s knowledge and understanding of how healthy and sustainable foods is grown; work together as team with peers and adults; and health and nutrition benefits of making healthy food choices. The children will visit Fondy Farmer’s Market and other nearby community gardens at Washington Park to enhance their understanding of how community gardens can increases their access to healthy food.
