School may be out for the summer, but learning continues during students' time off.
With the summer months around the corner, there are many real-life learning activities students can partake in with their families. Keeping kids engaged with fun learning activities during the summer vacation can be the easiest way to avoid the ‘summer slump.'
By keeping children entertained with new experiences, they will be able to look back at the end of summer and reflect on the accomplishments and adventures they attained over the two-month break from school. Introducing children to new life experiences means they return to school in the fall refreshed, well rested and excited to share their new-fangled adventures with their teachers and peers.
Summer is the time where ‘kids can be kids'. They can take advantage of enriching experiences within their own backyards and communities. Summer for students is filled with family time, heading away to summer camp, trips to parks, museums and the local library.
We are fortunate enough around the Innisfail area to have many local attractions and learning venues the students can access. The town of Innisfail offers many enriching activities for children to partake in as they continue their learning journey with their families.
Children and families can visit the Innisfail Public Library, take in a hole or two at the Innisfail Golf Club, visit the Innisfail and District Historical Village, or check out the animals at the Discovery Wildlife Park.
These family-friendly attractions allow our students to become one with their community, and learn what their community has to offer. Students can also give back to the community they live in by picking up litter throughout the streets.
Around the Innisfail area, there are many tourist attractions, which are fun for the whole family. They can check out Gleniffer Lake, Dickson Dam, the RCMP Police Dog Service Training Centre, Historic Markerville, and the Stephansson House Provincial Historic Site. Discovering these attractions opens real-life learning experiences for students, which they hold for the remainder of their lives.
Within the town of Innisfail, students can spend their mornings and afternoons at the Innisfail Aquatic Centre swimming or playing with friends at the splash park. On rainy days, they can take in a round of bowling at the bowling alley, or pick berries at the many farms that surround the Innisfail area.
The adventures and learning that take place over summer are the memories students bring to school in the fall. Wishing all families a safe and adventurous summer vacation!
Lisa Baird is the vice-principal at École John Wilson Elementary School.
