With summer vacation in full swing and the kids out of school, what can parents do to keep their children’s educational experiences from the previous school year firmly planted in their memories?
   
One way to approach summer learning is to reinforce and remind students of the lessons they learned during the school year. Another way is to introduce kids to new books and educational experiences.
   
“Think about the three A’s: ‘academic,’ ‘artistic’ and ‘altruistic.’ Find ways to enrich their lives in these areas this summer, and they won’t be bored,” says Melissa Figge, a guidance counselor at Woodbridge High School in Irvine.
   
In these days of tight school budgets, many public schools no longer offer summer school classes to students, except to those who are deficient in credits. However, parents can consider, for instance, sending their children to performing arts camps and enrolling high school students in academic programs at local colleges and universities. Check with the admissions office or look up the schools online to see what they offer and how to apply. And don’t forget about online college courses open to high school students, too.
   
“We have kids who take programs online through Ivy League colleges ... They don’t get high school credit, but they get credit from the school and it’s great for their college application,” says Jacquie Morck, a guidance counselor at Troy High School in Fullerton. Morck notes that UC Irvine and UC Riverside are excellent options. UC Irvine’s second summer session runs Aug. 4-Sept. 10, and UC Riverside’s is from July 28-Aug.30. For more details, visit summer.uci.edu or summer.ucr.edu.

Plenty of free learning options!
> A growing number of teachers now give students practice workbooks or suggested reading lists at the end of the school year to use over the summer. Insist that your child do some work or reading from the free workbooks.
   
> Regularly take your children to the public library and have them borrow books to read at home. Patrons can check out several books at a time for free. Libraries also offer free kids’ programs year round, on topics ranging from animals to plants to volcanoes, so pick up a schedule and attend these programs.

> Visit a shop that sells educational products, such as Lakeshore Learning. Several educational publishers put out workbooks covering subjects at various grade levels that students can work in during the summer. Lakeshore Learning stores are in Fountain Valley, Laguna Hills, Murrieta, San Bernardino and Upland. Products also can be purchased online at lakeshorelearning.com.

> Set a summer schedule to do some schoolwork at home with the kids. For example, Catherine George’s son, Zachary, will enter second grade, and her daughter, Gizelle, will enter fifth grade this fall. Using workbooks she buys at a Lakeshore store, George helps her kids with their writing, math and reading skills, usually Mondays through Thursdays. “I make them read about 45 minutes a day,” says George.
   
Among the workbooks George buys from Lakeshore is “A Writing Prompt Journal,” which contains short stories and allows children to write or draw pictures about the stories. “It keeps their story-writing skills fresh,” George says. “And there are pages where they can write any story they want.”
   
> Finally, if the thought of having your children open textbooks during the summer makes them vow to boycott homework this fall, schedule field trips to interesting places that have educational value. Search the Internet for museums, science centers and historical sites, or buy a guidebook for ideas.
   
We’ve included a list to get you started. Make your plans now!

Amy Bentley is a contributing writer to OC Family Magazine.

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10 EDUCATIONAL SUMMER STOPS

1. Discovery Science Center
Find 120 exhibits and experiments on science, math and technology.
2500 North Main St., Santa Ana
714.542.CUBE
discoverycube.org

2. The Bowers Museum and Kidseum
Kids can learn about international cultures with hands-on exhibits.
2002 North Main St., Santa Ana
714.567.3600
bowers.org

3. Fullerton Arboretum and Heritage House
Tour Orange County’s oldest and largest botanical garden at Cal State Fullerton.
714.278.3407
fullertonarboretum.org

4. Ocean Institute
Explore life at sea.
24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point
949.496.2274
ocean-institute.org

5. The Centennial Heritage Museum
Learn about the Gold Rush and early Native Americans.
3101 West Harvard St., Santa Ana
centennialmuseum.org

6. Quail Botanical Gardens
Study nearly 3,500 plants in various environments. Check out the Family Insect Festival on July 12 and 13.
230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas
760.436.3036
qbgardens.org

7. Mission San Juan Capistrano
This historical site features gardens, a chapel, soldier housing and ruins of the stone church.
26801 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano
949.234.1300
missionsjc.com

8. Santa Ana Zoo
Zoo tours are offered for kids of all ages.
1801 East Chestnut Ave. 714.835.7484; santaanazoo.org

9. Aquarium of the Pacific
The aquarium is home to more than 12,500 ocean creatures in 19 major habitats.
100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach
562.590.3100
aquariumofpacific.org
   
10. Birch Aquarium
Situated on a coastal bluff overlooking the ocean, it features more than 60 marine habitats and
hands-on displays that kids will love. 2300 Expedition Way.
858.534-FISH
aquarium.ucsd.edu