Dear Parents, Do You Know What Your Kids Are Doing This Summer?

Summer is here, and with it comes the sweet smell of freedom — no alarm clocks, no homework, no early morning scrambles to catch the bus. For our children, those warm months between June and August feel like pure liberation. But for parents who are paying attention, summer can quietly become the season where our kids fall behind.

Education researchers call it the “summer slide” — the measurable loss of academic skills and knowledge that occurs when students are out of school for extended periods. Studies show that students can lose up to two months of reading and math progress over the summer, and the impact is often most significant for children in under-resourced communities. By the time September rolls around, too many of our kids are spending the first weeks of school simply catching up to where they were in May, rather than moving forward. We cannot afford that. Our children cannot afford that.

But here is the good news: Milwaukee is rich with opportunity. Our city is full of programs designed to keep young minds sharp, spirits soaring, and futures bright. The question is — do you know about them?

Let’s start with Milwaukee Public Schools Summer Academy, which offers academic enrichment and credit recovery for all city residents, whether they are MPS students or not, across multiple grade levels. This is a powerful option to keep your child connected to learning in a structured environment. Similarly, GEAR UP — a federally funded program supporting college preparation for middle and high school students — provides tutoring, mentoring, and college readiness experiences that can change the entire trajectory of a young person’s life.

For students with an eye on the medical field, the 500 Stars Program at the Medical College of Wisconsin is an extraordinary opportunity. This program introduces students of color to careers in medicine and health sciences — the kind of early exposure that plants seeds of possibility that grow for a lifetime.

UW-Milwaukee’s Planning for the Future Summer Camp is another gem, connecting students to higher education and career exploration right here in our city. While you’re exploring options, I encourage every family to check with local universities — UWM, Marquette, MSOE, and others — as many offer summer camps and enrichment programs that are free or low-cost for Milwaukee youth.

Summer should also feed the soul. Black Arts MKE Summer Camp does exactly that — immersing young people in the richness of Black art, culture, and creative expression. These experiences build identity, confidence, and pride in ways that a classroom alone simply cannot.

For families looking for full-day options, the YMCA Summer Camp, Boys & Girls Club Day Camp, and Camp Whitcomb-Mason are trusted, beloved institutions that blend fun with character development. Meanwhile, the Kellogg PEAK Initiative offers youth programming rooted in academic support, enrichment, and community — keeping kids engaged and purposeful throughout the summer months.

Parents, I need you to hear this: summer is not a vacation from your child’s future. It is an extension of it. Every book read, every skill learned, every new experience gained is an investment in who your child is becoming. The young people who arrive back at school in September with new knowledge, new confidence, and new connections are the ones who have an edge — and that edge matters.

I urge you to pick up the Milwaukee Public Schools Recreation booklet, available at MPS schools and community centers, which lists dozens of additional programs across the city. Make calls. Ask questions. Fill out applications. Advocate for your child the way only a parent can.

Our children are watching us. They are learning whether we believe their potential is worth fighting for — even in July.

The opportunities are there. Now it’s our turn to reach for them.