Preventing the 'summer slide'

COEUR d'ALENE - Teachers know all about the "summer slide," so the new KIDS Camp has been organized to prevent students from going down that road.

A group of Coeur d'Alene educators, volunteers and sponsors rallied to start the fun literacy Knowledge Independence Direction Success (KIDS) Camp at Fernan Elementary this summer, hoping to prevent elementary students' loss of literacy skills during the break.

"The focus is on literacy and preventing the summer slide," said teacher Greta Gissel. "For every child there can be a turning point in their love of reading."

Students chosen for the program need assistance to reach standards.

"Our kids are really enjoying their experience," Gissel said. "In fact, one girl stated that she didn't like to read at the beginning of the first day on the bus, and at the end of the first day she said that she had changed her mind and really did like reading."

The vision of the pilot program, which is funded on donations and run by volunteers, is to have all kids in the Coeur d'Alene area meeting or exceeding academic proficiency standards by the third grade. This summer's program serves Winton Elementary students, but organizers hope to expand it next year to other students.

"If kids can't read by the third grade, they then tend to fail," Gissel said.

The cost for the camp is $15 per family, but scholarships are available.

The camp includes guest speakers from the community for a fun, interactive environment.

Multiple agencies, businesses and residents have donated to the program, including $1,750 from the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and $500 from Kiwanis.

Organizers are trying to raise an additional $2,200 this summer to provide supplies and snacks for the students this summer. The Hayden Library is securing book donations for the kids for their home libraries. The Windermere Foundation will provide school supplies for the upcoming year at the camp's completion ceremony in August. The University of Idaho donated Chromebooks to use during the camp. Lakes Magnet Middle School is assisting.

"There's been an outpouring of generosity," Gissel said. "Our intention is to repeat the camp next summer and expand it."

How to help

Tax-deductible donations to KIDS Camp can be sent to: Coeur d'Alene School District No. 271, 1400 N. Northwood Center Court, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814. Write KIDS Camp in the memo. For more information on the camp, visit www.kidscampcda.com.