YOUR SOURCE FOR SUMMER LEARNING NEWS
January 7, 2022
Issue No. 42
Photo credit: 2021 Excellence in Summer Learning Award-Winning Programs (details)
Greetings!
We hope everyone had a relaxing, healthy and rejuvenating holiday break.

Our work to plan together and provide more summer learning opportunities to millions more youth is under way. Please check out this recent New York Times article which highlights the effects of Covid on children and why all our efforts to support them through quality and innovative summer programs is more important than ever.

To help more families discover and access summer programs, meals, parent tips and a sea of resources, NSLA is again launching DiscoverSummer.org, an online national destination with a searchable program database developed with local and national partners to keep kids learning, earning, safe and healthy this summer. We are calling on summer programs across the country to join us and list your programs so more families can access your programs and find fun, enriching summer experiences in their community. NSLA hopes to double the number of programs offered to 40,000 program sites and we welcome submissions from all summer program providers, particularly those targeting underserved communities.

The launch of the site will be accompanied by an NSLA national pubic awareness campaign. There is no cost to join or use and it is a great value to families and program providers. You can learn more about last year’s effort below and submit your program contact information here.
Summer Changes Everything™ Save the Date 
Super Early Bird Special
NSLA’s 2021 Summer Changes Everythingnational conference in Washington, D.C. was a tremendously inspiring, impactful and memorable experience for the 500+ summer champions who joined us from around the country and had the chance to learn from U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona, Harlem Children Zone’s Geoff Canada, CBS News’ Margaret Brennan, NEA President, Becky Pringle and so many other education leaders.

Please save October 24-26, 2022 on your calendar as we will head back to the nation’s capital and the historic Mayflower Hotel for our annual conference.

Here is a SUPER EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT for those who want to ensure their spot.
View 2021 Photo Galleries
Last Call: Apply for a 2022 National Summer Learning Award Now!
Don't delay! Applications for the 2022 Summer Learning Awards have been extended to January 21st, at 6:00 p.m. E.T.
Each year, with support from New York Life Foundation, NSLA recognizes programs that provide high quality summer learning opportunities to young people in communities across the nation. Program candidates for the Summer Learning Awards demonstrate excellence in accelerating academic achievement and promoting healthy development for low income children and youth between pre-kindergarten and twelfth grade.
Think your program has what it takes to be recognized as a national leader? Apply today! 
Summer Learning Leadership Development Opportunities
Check out and apply for these different leadership development opportunities for youth and staff leaders of all ages and stages in their careers!
$20,000 NSLA Summer Innovation Fellowship*
All-Expense-Paid Summer Internship for Current College Students*
Summer Leadership Training Institute
(July 11-15)
*Candidates must be nominated by an NSLA Summer Learning Award winner or program finalist.
Apple Education Learning Series
This series presented by the Apple Education Leadership and Learning teams is designed to help educators use Apple products and their built-in features to enable remote learning for all students.

As a follow-up to the series, educators can also participate in virtual conferences led by Apple Professional Learning Specialists. Visit the virtual conferences schedule to find events in your time zone. Each virtual conference provides an opportunity for educators to engage in dialogue with the teams at Apple Education about the content provided in each video.
Thank you and Best of Luck to Laura Johnson
NSLA VP of Communications
Dear friends,

You truly put the joy, heart, and passion in summer learning! Thank you for being the light, and in the words of Alicia Keys,” the engine that makes all things go” - especially during this extraordinarily challenging time for children and families everywhere. After seven years of service, I am moving on to an equally impactful organization. My last day at NSLA will be January 10.

As Aaron Dworkin, NSLA’s CEO, has said, this is a watershed moment for the summer learning and out of school time field. Just in the last two years, I’ve been so proud of the work we’ve done together to secure $30 billion in federal funding for summer and afterschool programs, connect families to quality programs and critical services during this pandemic, elevate the essential role of summer learning in America’s recovery efforts and support the development of leaders in the field. I am especially proud of the work to help states reimagine summer school through the new State Summer Learning Network that I’ve had the honoring of launching and co-leading with our partners at the Council of Chief State School Officers - thanks to the support of The Wallace Foundation and MetaMetrics.

This is truly “heart work” and I am forever changed, forever grateful, and forever inspired by the children, the communities and changemakers on this journey. I am certain our paths will cross again but, in the meantime, you can reach me at laura.johnson819@gmail.com. For administrative, partnership, program or philanthropic inquiries, contact Christi Rokicki at crokicki@summerlearning.org.

For the joy of summer learning,

Laura Johnson, Vice President, Communications
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