Explore 30

Explore 30

Explore 30 Camp Reading Program

The Challenge

During the summer children experience “summer learning loss” when they are not involved in high quality programs with opportunities for skill building. As a result, young people can forget up to 2 months of academic instruction, particularly in the areas of reading and math when they are not in school. Camps and other youth development programs provide the opportunity to reduce summer learning loss in an expanded learning environment where children are engaged experientially and have an opportunity for additional academic enrichment.

A Solution

Launched in 2011, the American Camp Association's Explore 30 Camp Reading Program addresses summer learning loss by providing youth with at least 30 minutes of reading time per day. Learn more about the program outcomes through the Explore 30 Impact Report.

Explore 30 is a FREE program for camps and other youth development organizations interested in starting either a formal or informal reading program. Participating camps receive access to reading resources and also have the opportunity to join in advocacy efforts to increase the recognition of and support for the value of the camp experience as a vital component in the development and education of the whole child. Camps will commit to the goal of incorporating academic enrichment into their program — specifically by encouraging daily reading to support building literacy.

Benefits of Participation

Increased promotion of camp reading through alignment with the nationally marketed Explore 30 brand,
Access to free books and children's magazines
Access to online reading resources,
Activity ideas for incorporating reading into camp programs,
Information on how to advocate for the impact of camp on literacy and the reversal of summer learning loss,
Incentives for reading completion, and
Information about hosting author visits,
Share your success with the Explore 30 program.

Join Explore 30 today!

If you're interested in enhancing reading opportunities at your camp and receiving FREE and/or discounted reading resources, join Explore 30 by completing the Explore 30 enrollment survey. (NOTE: Camps/organizations that participated in 2011 are required to re-enroll in order to take advantage of FREE Explore 30 reading resources.) See a list of camps participating in Explore 30 in 2012.
If you're pleased with how reading opportunities are provided at your camp, and you don't need reading resources, then support reading at camp by getting involved in Explore 30 advocacy.
Partners/Sponsors- Contact Barry Garst at bgarst@ACAcamps.org to discuss opportunities to support Explore 30.