All children are born with unlimited potential to learn and achieve.

Telling your children you believe in them, and that you have high expectations for them, helps them achieve their full potential.

During the summer, Grand Rapids offers free, fun real opportunities for your children to learn and achieve.

With the right activities, summer is full of mad potential for your children to grow smarter.

One real opportunity is Believe2Become Summer Learning Academy. If you learn that your child is eligible, sign up right away!

Believe2Become

Summer Learning Academy★ Preschool to grade 12

★ Six weeks of learning activities, field trips, and campus visits

★ Credit recovery for GRPS students

★ Paid work experience for high school students

★ After Summer Learning Academy, many students demonstrate academic advantage and improved attendance in school

Learn more at believe2become.org/summerlearning

So, what should you know about

“Summer Learning Loss” ?★ “Summer learning loss” is the loss of skills or

knowledge over summer vacation

★ It happens to 100% of students who do not engage in any educational activities during the summer

★ Set backs of up to 2.6 months in math and reading skills can occur during the summer

★ But wait, there is some really good news about summer learning!

*Source: National Summer Learning Association

Why spend time on

Summer Learning?

*Source: Believe2Become

Summer Learning Academy Proven Gains*

Elementary Middle School High School

Math gains

Stemming Summer Math Loss

Reading gains

Stemming Summer Reading Loss

Attendance Rate >80%

No Suspensions

Believe2Become

Summer Learning Academy ProvidersAquinas College

Boys and Girls Club

Brown Hutcherson

Calvin CRC

Camp Fire USA

Ferris State University

Girls Scouts Shore to Shore

Grand Rapids Community College Foundation

Grand Rapids Dreams

Grand Rapids Institute for Leaders

Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities

Hispanic Center of Western Michigan

Jubilee Jobs

New Hope Baptist Church

Oakdale Neighbors

Restorers

Sabaoth Ministries

Salvation Army Kroc Center

United Church Outreach Ministry (UCOM)

Vocal Music Workshop

Word of Faith Grand Rapids

YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids

United Methodist Community House

West Michigan Center for Arts & Technology

Other real opportunities in West Michigan are free for your whole family this summer!

Grand Rapids Art Museum101 Monroe Center St NWwww.artmuseumgr.org

Meijer FREE Thursday nights 5 to 9 p.m.

City of Grand Rapids Splash PadsFREE noon to 6 p.m. daily. May be closed Sundays.

Aberdeen Park Eastern at Evelyn NE

Alger Park School 921 Alger SE

Gerald R. Ford Academic Center 851 Madison SE

Heartside Park 69 Ionia SE

Joe Taylor Park 1030 Bemis SE

Mary Waters Park 1042 Lafayette NE

Mulick Park 1761 Rosewood SE

Find a Grand Rapids Public Librarynear you at www.grpl.org

or a Kent District Library at www.kdl.org

Free Movies in the ParkAh-Nab-Awen Park220 Front Ave NW

June 5 and 19July 10 and 24August 7 and 23

Festival of the ArtsDowntown Grand Rapidswww.festivalgr.org

June 5 – 7, 2015

FREE family-friendly performancesChoirs, bands, soloistsDance groups and troupesTheatre and visual arts

GRand JazzFestRosa Parks Circle135 Monroe Center NW

August 15-16, 2015

www.grandjazzfest.org

Have your family rate each outing: 1, 2, or 3 stars!

1. Choose your summer activities with your child

2. Take a photo with your bag at your favorite summer spot

3. Post with #madpotential

The creator of one #madpotential post in March will be selected to win a Kindle Fire!

facebook.com/ibelieveibecome

instagram.com/madpotential8

twitter.com/madpotential8

Which summer activities do you think your family would enjoy the most??

Want to learn more?Go to parents.grps.org and sign up to take a classon your smartphone, tablet, or laptop.