Education Commissioner Visits Newport Summer Learning Program

“Learning doesn’t take a vacation,” Gist said. “When children are involved in fun and productive activities throughout the summer, they’re better able to retain what they’ve learned and to perform well in school in the fall.”

 Commissioner Gist joined nearly 40 students who had built their own kites and spent the afternoon in the sun, throwing footballs and Frisbees, and used the always popular rainbow parachute to play a game called “Lifeguards and Sharks.”

“Children’s minds are always open for learning activities,” Gist said. “Kids can learn from teachers, counselors, mentors, and of course parents as well – through family activities and at many of the high-quality programs that are available across the state.”

Here’s a list of some local programs that are running through the summer months:

Summer Reading Programs at the Newport, Middletown, and Portsmouth libraries.

University of Rhode Island hosts many summer camps on a wide variety of themes for all ages from late June through August; for the complete listing, check out www.uri.edu/news/camps.

• Summer Transportation Institute is a two-week program for students in grades 7 – 9 on highway and bridge design to career opportunities, with academic enhancement and field trips:

• KIDSEYE! Is an intensive and fun five-day summer camp held at the University that exposes young people to the basic elements of the filmmaking process for ages 11 – 17. 

• Computer Camp teaches students ages 9 – 18 a variety of computer-related topics including Microsoft Office, web development, 3D programming, computer graphics and animation

• Alton Jones Day Camps offer outdoor environmental education that encourages scientific inquiry and discovery for students 5 – 15 at the University.

• Save the Bay offers educational opportunities through its Beachfront Aquarium and summer camps.

Recreational Programs

Jamestown: Baseball and Tennis Camps/Youth Drumming Program, www.jamestownri.net/rec/rec.html

Middletown: Tennis Lessons/Wrestling/Baseball League, www.middletownri.com/government/6/Parks-Recreation

Newport: Tennis, Cheer, Soccer Camps/Summer Day Camps, www.cityofnewport.com/departments/recreation/activities.cfm

Portsmouth: Lacrosse and Little League, www.portsmouthri.com/parksandrec

The Newport Arts Museum offers camps and courses for all ages and abilities throughout the year.

Summer Camp Directories

RI Camps: www.ricamps.org/alpha_listing.shtml

KidsCamps: www.kidscamps.com/summer_camps/rhode_island-summer-camps.html

A full list of statewide summer activities and programs is available online at the Commissioner of Education's website.