Highlands' Summer Fun Runs to bring reading, STEAM, snacks to children while school's out

Highlands library specialist Kristen Gettens is ready for summer fun — but it’s not because the longtime teacher is counting down the days to vacation.

She’ll be motoring the district’s Ram Van through Fawn, Brackenridge, Harrison and Tarentum to promote reading and prevent learning loss.

“We are very excited about this,” Gettens said of the Summer Fun Runs, scheduled to begin June 11. “We looked at ways to reach all members of the community.”

Summer learning loss, or slide, is very real, according to a University of Tennessee study that showed children who don’t read over the summer lose at least two months of development.

Reading just six books over the break from school can help kids avoid the summer slide, according to brainbalancecenters.com.

Superintendent Monique Mawhinney hopes all children take advantage of the weekly themed adventures.

“This is an amazing way to get kids reading,” she said.

Funded by several groups, including the Mellon Foundation, Title 1 and members of the community, the program will meet children where they are, Gettens said.

Sessions will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays and will follow a specific route.

Tuesday’s stops will tentatively include the Fawn Municipal Building, Walmart, Village Green, Sylvan Park Pool and Sheldon Park, all in Harrison.

On Wednesdays, the van will travel from Legends of Pittsburgh in West Tarentum to the Tarentum Splash Park, before heading to the Salvation Army in Brackenridge, Natrona Community Park and The Spot, just off Freeport Road in Harrison.

Highlands landed the Ram Van late last year through a $585,000 SEEKS grant from the Allegheny County Health Department and managed by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit.

The mobile care unit is equipped with backpacks, clothes, toiletries and other items to help students in all grades succeed in school.

Children who attend the Summer Fun Runs will have access to the supplies.

Teacher input was sought to increase participation, Gettens said.

There will be guest readers throughout the summer, along with grade-level themes and chances for online participation.

As an incentive, each child will get a lanyard and badge to be marked at each visit. There will be a celebration in early August with prizes, games and food for students who visit at least four times, read four books and complete a STEAM activity.

To engage teens in middle school and high school, there will be a “Chopped” challenge modeled on the popular TV show where contestants create a meal from mystery ingredients.

Gettens said the Fun Runs will be just that: something for kids to anticipate.

“We’ll have stories and make-and-take STEAM activities, hygiene items and healthy snacks,” she said.

“If your cousin is at your house, let’s get them to read, too. It’s for everyone.”