Montana: Home of the Last Best Summer

MONTANA: HOME OF THE LAST BEST SUMMER BY: ABBY LYNES

There’s something magical about a summer in Montana. When all the snow starts to melt and the landscape turns a million shades of green, with wildflowers galore, no one wants to be inside. We can’t wait to get out and enjoy the fresh mountain air, rushing rivers and all the outdoor amenities practically in our backyard. It’s the perfect time to be a kid. With camps for pretty much any interest or hobby, kids can get out of their comfort zones and ex plore a number of activities, including theater, science, reading, sports — you name it. The sky is the limit. Summer is a great time to try something new, and your child may just find a lifelong passion through one of the many programs available in Montana. Step one foot outside, and you’ll be struck by all the immense beauty Southwest Mon tana has to offer. Montana is an incredible, awe-inspiring place, and kids who grow up here have almost every outdoor opportunity at their fingertips, whether it be rock climbing, rafting, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, float ing and so much more. It’s a huge benefit of living in this state, as studies show that kids who play outside are smarter, happier, more attentive, and less anxious than kids who spend more time indoors (Child Mind Insti tute “Ideas For Getting Your Kids into Nature.”) Studies also show that summer learning is vital to ensuring your child thrives during the school year. Children experience learning losses and score lower on standardized tests at the end of the summer than they do at the beginning of it (Issue Brief No. 43, page 2, afterschoolalliance.org.) Learning is a men tal exercise, one with muscles that need to be flexed regularly to stay in shape the same way physical muscles do. It’s never too early to start making plans for summer learning and exploration. In fact, now is the time to start signing up for most camps and programs. While the decision of whether or not to send a child to camp often comes down to whether or not a family can fit it into their busy schedule or if parents need childcare on a given week, there are so many more benefits that should be con sidered. It can give a child more confidence, help them make friends and explore interests they didn’t know that had. According to the ACA Youth Outcomes Survey, 96% of children said going to camp helped them make new friends, and 70% of parents said it gave their child more confidence. If cost is an issue, scholarships are an option for many programs. Katie Goodman, founder of theater day camp, Equinox, said that she has never had to turn a child away from her program in 24 years, thanks to scholarships. The Museum of the Rockies hosts several camps for students in first through eighth grade, with scholarship applications avail able at museumoftherockies.org. Summer should be a time of fun, learning and adventure. Any interest your child may have is worth pursuing, and summer is the perfect time to branch out. We recommend sitting your child down and handing them a list of options to choose from — maybe even this publication — and seeing what piques their interest. Your child’s potential is limitless. A rocket lover may discover a passion for climbing, an artist might realize they’re an excellent rock climber or a musician might find they have a knack for science. They’ll never know if they don’t give it a shot. What ever their experience may be, they will come back to school ready to learn, with some good stories to tell classmates.