School might be out for summer, but Imagination Station officials announced Tuesday they are offering discounts for low-income families and stepping up educational offerings to curtail children’s learning loss while they’re away from the classroom.
During a news conference at the science center, Lori Hauser, Imagination Station CEO, announced its range of summer camp and educational offerings to families, the newest of which is $3 admission to those who present SNAP/Electronic Benefits Transfer cards.
The lower admission cost is provided as part of a partnership with Museums for All, a nationwide program that promotes regular museum visits. When combined with the science center’s free Saturday admissions for Lucas County children — and those in the surrounding area — Ms. Hauser said she hopes more children will foster lifelong museum-going habits, as well as have fun and learn during their visits.
“The summer is a wonderful time for us, everything from family vacations to summer camp, and we just think it’s important to continue that learning,” she said. “And have that foundation with the groundwork that’s placed, but also have fun and do it as a family together.”
The center also offers camps and other robotics, coding, and arts programs throughout the summer. And for those who can’t make it to Imagination Station, the center will also be packing a van to bring scientific equipment and materials to schools, libraries, community centers, and other locations throughout the summer as part of its Mobile Learning Lab “Summer of STEAM” (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) program.
A schedule of locations is available at imaginationstationtoledo.org.
Among the supporters who joined Ms. Hauser’s announcement Tuesday were Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz and the Rev. John Jones, president of HOPE Toledo, a nonprofit established to help children obtain high-quality early childhood education and teens acquire postsecondary training in college or trade schools.
Mayor Kapszukiewicz highlighted concerns about the “summer slide” and research that has shown students lose ground academically during the roughly three-month break from school.
For example, a study published in 2020 by the American Educational Research Association examined test scores for nearly 18 million students from first through sixth grades nationwide between 2008 and 2016. It determined that more than half of them lost nearly 40 percent of their total school year gains each summer.
It’s been proven that can happen in Toledo, he said, which is why it’s been so important for the city to support Imagination Station’s programs and efforts to combat that learning loss so that Toledo-area students aren’t falling behind and playing catch-up in the fall months.
“Your mind is a muscle, and like any other muscle, if you don’t exercise it and work it, it kind of withers on the vine — at least that’s how I’m told exercise works,” Mayor Kapszukiewicz joked. “In a similar vein, you need to exercise your noggin, especially during those weeks and months when there might be a temptation not to do that.”
Mr. Jones said he and other HOPE Toledo representatives are also working with their community partners to ensure they’re aware of Imagination Station’s program offerings, including when and where the mobile learning van will be nearby, so that children and teens don’t miss out on learning opportunities.
“This opens the door for families to afford being able to come here … that’s a critical access point for some families who may not typically be able to come to the science center on a regular basis,” he said. “And it’s really important for our community to learn what resources are there for all of our children to access so that the educational space continues to grow.”
Meanwhile, Ms. Hauser emphasized there are still available slots for Imagination Station’s summer camps, as well as other robotics, coding and arts programs throughout the summer. She added there are scholarships available for students, as well as membership subsidies.
Information about those is available by calling 419-244-2674 or by going online at imaginationstationtoledo.org.
First Published June 13, 2023, 6:11 p.m.
