Guest Commentary | From summer slide to summer spark: A new era of enrichment for Lee County students
Early in the year, families across Lee County begin planning for camps, vacations and a well-earned break from the school year. But for many students — especially those who are already performing on or above grade level — summer can also represent something else: lost momentum.
This year, for the first time, The School District of Lee County is offering a new opportunity designed specifically to keep that momentum going.
Our inaugural 2026 STEAM & Advanced Summer Enrichment Institute is a fee-based enrichment experience created for students entering grades 3-12 next school year.
Unlike traditional summer school or credit recovery programs, this initiative is not intervention-based. It is not remediation. It is not designed to “catch students up.” It is designed to move them forward.
Over the years, our district has continued to serve students who need credit recovery or targeted academic support during the summer. That work remains essential and will continue. But families have also asked an important question: What opportunities are available for students who are already thriving?
We heard from parents and school leaders who wanted meaningful summer options for gifted students, advanced learners, aspiring artists, engineers and performers — students eager to explore new interests or deepen existing passions. We also recognized that other districts across Florida are already offering enrichment-focused summer institutes. It was time for us to do the same.
The result is a flexible, weeklong enrichment model that allows families to select experiences that align with their child’s interests. Each course runs Monday through Thursday in the mornings, giving students an engaging academic touchpoint without requiring a full-day commitment.
What makes this format especially exciting is it’s a la carte design. A middle school student might explore Artificial Intelligence one week, dive into forensic science through a CSI-style course the next and then build and launch rockets in a hands-on engineering experience the following week. A high school student might participate in Genius Lab: SAT Prep to strengthen math test-taking strategies before the fall semester. Elementary students can explore storytelling, environmental science, or STEM-based design challenges in creative, collaborative settings.
We are also offering arts enrichment opportunities in band and dance, along with a JROTC Raider Camp experience for eligible students.
Some courses have prerequisites.
Gifted and advanced academic offerings require students to meet established criteria, such as gifted identification or qualifying state assessment scores. Certain music and JROTC options require prior experience or program participation. Other enrichment courses — particularly within science and environmental education — are open to any interested student who meets the grade-level requirements.
Space will be limited, and enrollment caps will vary depending on the course. Registration for the Summer Enrichment Institute opened March 30.
Families who register by April 17 — this Friday — can take advantage of an early bird rate of $125 per child, per week.
After April 17, general registration will be available at $150 per child, per week. The registration deadline is May 11.
At its core, this Summer Enrichment Institute is about cultivating curiosity.
Research supports what educators already know: academic regression — often called the “summer slide” — is real. Without continued engagement, students can lose skills and confidence over the break. But beyond preventing regression, enrichment sparks something even more powerful.
When students participate in meaningful, hands-on experiences — designing a miniature derby car, coding a rover, analyzing mock forensic evidence or modeling constellations in a portable planetarium — they do more than learn content. They discover interests. They build confidence. They begin to envision what they might pursue in the coming school year and beyond.
We piloted similar science-based experiences in previous summers, and years later, students still talk about them. Those memories matter. They shape trajectories.
Our ultimate goal is simple: to create opportunities that energize students and help them walk into the next school year excited, confident and ready to grow.
Summer does not have to be a pause in learning. It can be a launchpad and we are proud to introduce this new chapter for Lee County families.
— Natalie Elschlager is the advanced courses coordinator at The School District of Lee County. For those interested in signing up for the Summer Enrichment Institute, the Registration Form may be found at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5N_g1Rkf16zkgRI-9s_SOx4DgnBJ_nQtebxhaH8vBIt5Bkw/viewform