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Building Local Bonds
Horizons in Action
Challenge
The Horizons tuition-free program serves students from communities deeply impacted by educational inequities, which became even more obvious during the pandemic. Many Kent and Queen Anne's students don't have access to reliable transportation and pools, necessary to learn the life-saving skill of swimming. Because of an imbalance in resources, many students don't have access to enriching activities that put them on track to enter school in the fall. They arrive unprepared for learning because they lost valuable skills they had mastered the previous year in school. This is known as the "summer slide." Studies show that gaps of opportunity and achievement exponentially increase over time, if not addressed by the community.
Opportunity
Students attending Horizons discover:
- the JOY of learning
- the skills for SUCCESS
- the INSPIRATION to realize their dreams
Results
Students enjoy:
- BETTER grades
- BETTER self-esteem
- BETTER opportunities for a promising future
Join Our Team
Horizons is a nonprofit organization funded through foundation grants, fundraising and people who care about children, education and our community. Donors that generously give $1,000 or more are designated to be Horizons Heroes. These special friends are the backbone of our organization. All levels of support, however, are appreciated and valued.
Community Impact
Our Community Impact
The Horizons educational model has been confirmed by recent research as the most effective approach to summer learning programs.
National results–as well as our own local findings–show students have increased positive attitudes toward school and improved attendance and graduation rates.
Horizons of Kent and Queen Anne’s was inspired by research conducted by Johns Hopkins sociology Professor Karl Alexander and his colleagues that found that “summer slide” is the academic loss that occurs when low income children are out of school, watching TV or wandering the streets.
Professor Alexander’s research indicates that during the school year, lower income children’s skills improve at about the same rate as upper income children’s. During the summer, lower income children do not improve, while upper income children’s skills continue to improve. The summer learning shortfall over the elementary grades experienced by low income children has consequences that reverberate all throughout children’s schooling, into high school and beyond.
Can summer programs help with a disadvantaged population? According to Professor Alexander, “We need to provide [these] children with strategically planned, structured summer experiences, and that’s especially true for those who don’t have access to enriching, home-based learning. Summer programs can be an important part of that strategy by providing a variety of experiences that challenge children, develop their talents, keep them engaged, and expand their horizons.”
Kent & Queen Anne Support
Parent Success Stories
[My three children] made beautiful memories at Horizons and the curriculum made it so that they retained learning skills to help them be successful for the school year. The work that you all do means a lot to my family, thank you for your efforts!
Student Achievements
Celebrating student milestones.
Youth Empowerment
Inspiring youth to excel.
Accessible Education
Ensuring access to quality learning.
Our Community, Our Support
Building Caring Communities
My children were a part of Horizons for 10 years. I sent four children throughout that time frame. I can't even begin to list all of the benefits we have received from being a part of this program. For example, all of my children are very strong swimmers, and one of my sons went on to become a certified lifeguard. None of my children suffered from the usual summer slump that many kids have when they stay home the whole summer, and two of my children went on to be teachers aids for the program after they had aged out. We also have a strong relationship with a wonderful mentor that was introduced to us through Horizons who has continued to help all of my children over the years. They say it takes a village to raise a child and I truly feel like the amazing people we have worked with in the Horizons program are a part of my village and have made my children stronger than I ever could have done alone.
Together for Our Kids
Impact in Our Community
"Special" does not even begin to cover how amazing the Horizons program is. I am so grateful to be a part of a team that works together to provide kids with a safe, fun-filled, learning adventure over the summer. This program has enabled the best of the best to influence our communities in a way unlike any other. Our students are never just sitting in a classroom trying to prevent the summer slide. They are investigating, exploring, practicing, and GROWING. They are provided with a structured and safe learning environment where they can further develop in ways a typical summer camp would never be able to compare.
Join Our Mission
Kent School is grateful to host the transformational Horizons program on our campus in the summer. I personally enjoy reading aloud each week in the classrooms, so that I have a chance to get to know the students and faculty. Teachers in the Horizons program are truly inspirational, and I love seeing the joy-filled classrooms alive with the voices and energy of engaged students. Join me in supporting Horizons.