Arkansas PBS > Engage > Pressroom > Arkansas PBS launches summer learning campaign to help combat ‘summer slide’
Posted 09 Jun 2020
CONWAY, Ark. (Arkansas PBS) — Building on the success of “Arkansas AMI,” Arkansas PBS is working to keep families learning all summer long with Camp AR PBS, a collection of free, fun online resources, programming, newsletters and more to help prevent the “summer slide,” where kids can lose two to three months of learning progress between school years.
“This summer is unlike any other, and we are here to help you make the most of it whether playing, exploring, creating or simply having fun as a family,” Arkansas PBS Executive Director Courtney Pledger said. “For those who got to know us during ‘Arkansas AMI’ and those who depend on us every summer for top notch learning resources, we are excited to present Camp AR PBS.”
Families can be a part of Camp AR PBS in two simple steps: · By downloading the Summer Fun Checklist at myarkansaspbs.org/parents.
· By signing up for the Camp AR PBS newsletter, which will feature ideas to help complete the Summer Fun Checklist and sneak peeks of new projects, at myarkansaspbs.org/engage.
Kids who complete the Summer Fun Checklist can enter to win an Arkansas PBS KIDS prize pack by emailing a photo of the completed checklist to us.
Families are encouraged to download the Engage Arkansas PBS app to access PBS KIDS games, share photos using specialized photo frames, watch content and stay connected to summer learning opportunities.
In July, the network will premiere a new, four-episode pre-K-2 children’s program, “Blueberry’s Clubhouse,” featuring Blueberry, a fun-loving puppet guide to engaging and insightful activities for students out of school for the summer months. Blueberry will look at the stories, animals and laughs in The Natural State in a broadcast series beginning July 24 and a digital series beginning July 20. “Blueberry’s Clubhouse” is produced in partnership with the Arkansas Arts Center.
One focus of Camp AR PBS will be literacy. Winners of the Arkansas PBS KIDS Writers Contest will be featured reading their original stories each Thursday at 2 p.m. throughout the summer at facebook.com/arkansaspbs, youtube.com/arkansaspbs and myarkansaspbs.org/writerscontest. Episodes of the digital series “GobbledyBook,” which promotes a love of reading and books in children through videos and activities, will be featured each Saturday on the Arkansas PBS Facebook page. Reading charts, bookmarks and PBS Kids activity booklets will be shared statewide through the Arkansas State Library System. Other resources available at myarkansaspbs.org/parents will include:
· Weekly blog posts with suggested summer reading and activities.
· Summer learning materials, including downloadable activity booklets, printable activities, a reading tracking chart and information about how to start a book club.
· Additional resources from Camp PBS KIDS and Camp PBS LearningMedia.
Students in grades 6-12 can tune into the At-Home Learning Block on AR PBS WORLD (ARPBS-4) weekdays from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. through August. The lineup of science, history and English language arts programming is coordinated with related learning assets from Arkansas PBS LearningMedia (myarkansaspbs.pbslearningmedia.org), a free online service of thousands of educational resources co-managed by WGBH and PBS.
Arkansas PBS is Arkansas’s only statewide public media network, which enhances lives by providing lifelong learning opportunities for people from all walks of life. Arkansas PBS delivers daily, essential, local, award-winning productions and classic, trusted PBS programs aimed at sharing Arkansas and the world with viewers through multiple digital platforms, including on-demand services and YouTube TV, and the distinct channels Arkansas PBS, Arkansas PBS Create, Arkansas PBS KIDS, Arkansas PBS WORLD and Arkansas PBS AIRS on SAP. Members with Arkansas PBS Passport have extended on-demand access to a rich library of public television programming. Arkansas PBS depends on the generosity of Arkansans and the State of Arkansas to continue offering quality programming. Additional information is available at myarkansaspbs.org. Arkansas PBS is broadcast on KETS (Little Rock), KEMV (Mountain View), KETG (Arkadelphia), KAFT (Fayetteville), KTEJ (Jonesboro) and KETZ (El Dorado).