Summer Learning Challenge Explorer’s Guides
Chicago Public Library, Ill.
Innovation Synopsis
To connect with as many patrons as possible in a variety of settings during our Summer Learning Challenge, Chicago Public Library developed activity guides that enhance learning anytime, anywhere. They include easy-to-replicate creative activities, reading and learning logs, STEAM activities provided by cultural partners and more.
Challenge/Opportunity
CPL’s Summer Learning Challenge aims to mitigate summer slide through literacy, STEAM and family engagement. However, we know our program extends far beyond the library’s walls to summer camps, road trips, parks and more. We wanted to create a piece to serve as a roadmap for youth, featuring content we created and content from our partner organizations. Our two take-home guides for school age and early learners help bring summer learning outside the physical library to wherever kids are throughout the summer.
Key Elements of Innovation
Our Explorer’s Guides are 40-page, full color books with puzzles, design challenges and literacy and STEAM activities. They appeal to the wide and varied interests of our city’s youth, and highlight our collections and feature partner content like Brain Games from Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry. The Little Explorer’s Guide highlights early literacy practices for caregivers. Both pieces are given to walk-in patrons and distributed to Chicago Park District camps, day care centers and outreach groups.
Achieved Outcomes
Our Explorer’s Guides have empowered families to spend their summer learning whether or not they can regularly come to the library. Our guides have featured over 50 activities from cultural partners that kids do in libraries, at home and at outreach sites. This piece has allowed us to double the amount of kids able to access our high quality content because it’s used in outreach sites. The guides have also inspired programming centered on their featured activities for library staff, teachers and camp directors.
