Summer Academy
Our summer program is a joyful six weeks of structured, creative learning activities that promote healthy youth development for children in grades K-8. The following are the essential opportunities we offer to our students every summer:
Academic Instruction – We reverse summer learning loss by engaging our students in a high-quality curriculum personalized for their specific needs and ages. Our students benefit from a 5:1 student-teacher ratio and individualized support and attention. Reading and math specialists rotate to classrooms with daily content specific lessons at each grade level.
Social and Emotional Learning - We value the power of Social Emotional Learning across all of our programming. The SEL work by our Family and Student Support Specialists lead to many other restorative conversations between students led by one another and teachers. For example, students practice expressing language connected to emotion and feeling based on the RULER Approach, offered by the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence.
Nutrition – Every Horizons student receives a minimum of two meals and one snack daily to address their physical needs and help close the hunger gap that exists for many children who depend on Free/Reduced Price Lunch during the school year. The garden club offers students a great opportunity to grow produce that teaches nutrition and provides fresh vegetables for families.
Swimming Lessons – Most students come to the program as non-swimmers who are afraid of the water. Swimming is not only a life-saving skill, but by learning to swim, our students also build trust and self-esteem – qualities which influence success in the classroom.
Field Trips – Our students expand their horizons by exploring what the Asheville community has to offer on field trips. From outdoor adventures to storytellers to tour of local restaurants to visits to the farmers markets; we seek to offer unique experiences for every grade level each summer. Interested in hosting a field trip for our students? Please contact us to collaborate!
Transportation – We offer transportation to all students for field trips, swimming, and all special events, ensuring equitable access for all nominated students to fully participate. We also strive to provide transportation to and from our campus to meet the needs of our participants.
Lessons in the Arts: Music, Art & Dance – Our scholars love to sing, dance, and create works of art, and our staff does, too! At the six weeks’ conclusion, our bright shining stars get to show off what they have learned for their parents at our popular end-of-summer celebration!
Creativity – We encourage our students to embrace and discover creativity all summer long! Beyond specific lessons we integrate hands-on making time into curriculum and free time! no summer would be complete without rock painting, friendship bracelets, and tie-dye!