Filling the GAP: Local K-5 students get support through summer camps

In the summer of 2022, Heidelberg’s Education Program received a $288,000 Statewide High-Intensity Tutoring Grant to support K-5 students who needed additional support in reading and math.

Working with partner schools Bridges Adacemy, Calvert Elementary and Krout Elementary, Heidleberg has provided high-intensity tutoring to more than 30 K-5 students and supported HU education by providing additional experience as tutors. 

This summer, GAP – Heidelberg’s Genius Hour Afterschool Program – expanded its programming by adding seven weeks of summer camp programs for K-5 students who had previously attended GAP. 

In collaboration with Tiffin’s the Franciscan Earth Literacy Center in Tiffin, GAP children and Heidelberg education tutors explored art in nature, animals, cooking and the Olympics. Five weeks of camps were hosted by FELC and two were hosted by Heidelberg’s School of Education. 

During the camps on campus, teacher education graduates and candidates facilitated the cooking and Olympics camps, providing quality learning experiences for the students, while supporting their literacy and math skills and goals. 

“This collaboration and funding provided a space for GAP children to be exposed to new experiences, content, and learning throughout the summer,” said Dr. Stacey Pistorova, Assistant Professor of Elementary Education and grant coordinator.

In the morning, GAP children participated in summer camp themes. Afternoons included high-intensity tutoring that focused on the children’s personal interests by pursuing topics ranging from cockatoos to endangered and extinct species. 

“Tutors integrated reading, writing and math skills in meaningful and purposeful  ways to support the children’s learning, reduce the learning gap that occurs during summer, and make learning fun,” Stacey said.

On the llast day of the camp, the students, along with their tutors' support, presented their Genius Hour Projects to families, showing how they applied math and literacy to their interests. 

Heidelberg’s GAP would like to thank the FELC, parents of participating students, our partner schools, participating tutors and Heidelberg University for supporting this community collaboration, positively impacting students and providing additional experience for our teacher candidates.