Summer is here and there is a lot to look forward to with all the festivals, competitions, parades and more that are scheduled over the next few months. Plus there’s all the camping, hiking and more that have been waited for all winter. With so much going on and so many places to explore during the summer, it can be difficult to keep kids from losing some of what they learned during the school year.

On average, students will score lower on the same standardized test at the end of summer than they did at the beginning of summer, according to the study, “The effects of summer vacation on achievement test scores.” The study was conducted by a team of researchers from University of Missouri-Columbia and Tennessee State University.

According to the team’s findings, three months of summer vacation creates an overall academic step backwards by about one month, with some subjects impacted more than others. For instance, math takes a 2.6-month step back and reading skills regress by about two months.

This means it can take schools until almost Halloween to get their students back to where they were on the last day of school before break — basically taking two steps forward, and a step back.

But, summer vacation doesn’t have to be an educational two-step. There are many learning opportunities throughout the summer at the library and local museums, and many of the outdoor recreation areas offer information about the geography and history of the area — making any camping, fishing or hiking trip the perfect opportunity for some hands-on learning.

Something as simple as packing a book can help keep kids’ minds sharp, and there’s plenty going on at the Powell Branch Library this summer to keep those young minds from growing dull.

Park County School District No. 1 is offering summer school sessions in coming weeks, specifically designed to help students who need additional interventions so they don’t fall behind or lose track before the start of the school year.

For kids who don’t need summer school, there are less intensive educational opportunities in the community.

The Powell Branch Library has a summer reading program for all ages — babies through adults — that started on Monday and runs through July 22. There’s still plenty of time for kids and teens to register as the deadline is June 27.

Each age group has different goals and activities designed with their reading abilities in mind. For more information about the summer reading program, stop by the library or go to tinyurl.com/PowellReads.

A visit to the Buffalo Bill Dam can easily be turned into a history and engineering lesson. How and why it was built and the impact the dam and canal system had on creating our home in the Basin can all be traced back to that single engineering marvel.

Of course, there’s always plenty of local history to explore — free of charge — at the Homesteader Museum. Most recently, the museum opened its new exhibit on the history of Powell’s barber shops and beauty salons. 

Then there’s the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center, where young minds can learn all about one of the darkest chapters of American history and how it impacted both the Big Horn Basin and beyond.

And not too far from Powell’s city limits there are often guided hikes provided at our state and national parks where hikers of all ages can learn about the flora and fauna in our area.

We’re fortunate to have so many learning opportunities available nearby and we encourage everyone, young and old, to pick up a book and go out and explore what’s out there this summer.