Written by Amber Heidtke, CEO
At The Zones, we’re dedicated to creating a safe, engaging, and supportive environment where young people can learn, grow, and thrive beyond the school day. Whether we’re launching new programs, improving our facilities, or expanding partnerships, every step we take is driven by our mission to empower youth through meaningful opportunities. In these articles, we’ll dive into of our latest projects—highlighting the impact it’s making and the people working behind the scenes to bring it to life.
Summer is often seen as a break from school, but for many children, it also means a break from learning. Without engaging activities to keep their minds active, kids can experience what’s known as the “summer slide”—a loss of academic skills and knowledge over the summer months. That’s why summer camp is more than just fun; it’s an essential way to keep kids learning, growing, and thriving.
At The Zones, we design our summer programs to combat learning loss while providing an exciting and enriching experience. Our goal is to ensure that kids return to school in the fall feeling confident, engaged, and ready to succeed.
What is the Summer Slide?
The “summer slide” refers to the academic regression that many students experience over the summer break when they are not engaged in educational activities. Research shows that:
Students can lose up to two months of math and reading skills over the summer. Low-income students are disproportionately affected, with less access to books, educational activities, and enrichment programs. By the time students reach middle school, summer learning loss can account for up to two years of achievement gaps.
But the good news? Enrichment programs, like those offered at The Zones, can help prevent this loss and even give kids an academic boost!
How The Zones Combats Learning Loss
At The Zones, we believe in learning through play, creativity, and hands-on experiences. Our summer camp programs are carefully designed to keep kids engaged, curious, and active. Here’s how we make a difference:
STEM & Creative Learning
We integrate science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) activities into our camp, making learning fun through hands-on experiments, robotics, and problem-solving games.
Reading & Literacy Activities
To prevent reading loss, we incorporate storytelling, book clubs, and creative writing exercises to keep kids engaged with words and ideas.
The Arts & Self-Expression
Whether through theater, dance, or music, our campers explore creativity and build confidence in self-expression.
Sports & Physical Play
Physical activity is critical for a child’s overall well-being. Our sports programs encourage teamwork, discipline, and a lifelong love of movement.
Life Skills & Leadership
We focus on personal development by teaching problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills—helping kids grow into confident, capable individuals.
A Safe & Supportive Environment
At The Zones, we understand the importance of a safe, welcoming space for kids to learn and grow. Our highly trained staff is dedicated to fostering an environment where every child feels supported and valued.
Join Us This Summer!
Don’t let your child fall behind this summer. Enroll them in The Zones’ summer camp and ensure they keep learning, exploring, and thriving!
Give your child a summer that builds skills, friendships, and confidence. We can’t wait to welcome them to The Zones!
Santa Rosa City Schools is expected to close Herbert Slater Middle School at the end of the 2024–2025 academic year and beginning in August 2025, more than 650 Slater students may transition to Montgomery High School, which will be restructured into a 7–12 campus. With Montgomery High School directly across the street, The Zones is positioned as a central hub for youth services during this pivotal transition.
The Challenges of Middle School-High School Consolidation
For many students, the middle school years serve as a critical bridge between childhood and adolescence. Moving these grades into high school settings can create both academic and social-emotional hurdles, including increased pressure and expectations, social and emotional adjustment, and the feeling of being overwhelmed.
The transition to high school can already be daunting for ninth graders. Placing middle schoolers in the same setting could make it harder for them to adjust at their own pace. Younger students may also be influenced by older students' behaviors, which may not always be developmentally appropriate.
How The Zones is Stepping Up
At The Zones, we recognize the unique challenges that come with this transition, and we’re ready to support students every step of the way. Our after-school programming provides a structured, welcoming space where middle schoolers can develop the skills and confidence they need to thrive in a high school setting.
Here’s how we help:
Moving Forward Together
Change is never easy, but with the right support, students can not only adjust to a consolidated middle school-high school environment but also thrive in it. The Zones is committed to ensuring that middle schoolers find stability, encouragement, and the resources they need to succeed, both in school and in life.
As Slater Middle School students make the transition to Montgomery High School’s newly expanded 7–12 campus, The Zones stands ready to support them every step of the way. Located directly across the street, The Zones will serve as a safe, welcoming, and engaging space where students can access academic support, enrichment activities, and social-emotional programming tailored to their unique needs during this period of change. Our after-school programs, designed to foster connection and confidence, will help ease the adjustment and ensure that every student, regardless of age or grade level, feels seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.
In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving educational landscape, students need more than classroom instruction to thrive. After-school enrichment programs have emerged as critical tools for holistic development, helping students discover passions, gain new skills, and build confidence beyond academic boundaries. At the forefront of this movement is The Zones, an organization dedicated to empowering youth through innovative and engaging after-school opportunities.
After-school programs are more than just a place to spend time after the bell rings. Research consistently shows that quality enrichment experiences provide a host of benefits:
Academic Boost: Students who participate regularly in after-school programs often see improvements in grades, test scores, and homework completion. These programs provide academic support and create learning environments that are creative and low-pressure.
Social and Emotional Development: Enrichment activities nurture critical soft skills like teamwork, empathy, leadership, and communication. Students build relationships with peers and mentors, which helps develop a sense of belonging and self-worth.
Safe and Supportive Environments: After-school hours are peak times for risky behavior. Structured programs offer a safe space where students are supervised, engaged, and encouraged to grow.
Exposure to New Interests: Whether it’s coding, art, music, entrepreneurship, or robotics, after-school programs expose students to opportunities they might not encounter in traditional school settings. These experiences often spark lifelong interests and career aspirations.
Equity and Access: For under-resourced communities, after-school enrichment can close opportunity gaps by giving students access to high-quality programming that supports their long-term success.
At The Zones, we believe in empowering youth by fostering creativity, curiosity, and community. Our after-school enrichment programs are designed with these values at the core, providing dynamic learning experiences that go beyond textbooks.
Here’s how we make enrichment meaningful:
The Zones offers a wide range of classes that give young people the freedom to explore and grow. These include:
Crochet and Fiber Arts: Encouraging creativity, patience, and fine motor skills.
Dance: Promoting expression, movement, and teamwork through multiple dance styles.
Digital Design: Teaching graphic design, visual storytelling, and creative software skills.
Minecraft Coding: Using a familiar game to introduce logic, problem-solving, and basic programming.
And More: Including activities in entrepreneurship, wellness, theater, STEM, and life skills.
These classes are available not only to students who attend our daily after-school program, but also to youth from the wider community, ensuring that more kids have the chance to experience enriching, skill-building opportunities regardless of their primary program enrollment.
Programs are tailored to the interests and identities of the youth we serve. We empower students to choose learning paths that resonate with them and encourage ownership of their personal growth journey.
The Zones connects students with mentors who reflect their communities and passions. These mentors guide, support, and inspire young people, fostering lasting bonds that extend beyond the classroom.
We partner with local schools, nonprofits, and organizations to bring even more value and real-world connection to our programs. These relationships deepen impact and create opportunities for students to apply their skills in meaningful ways.
We prioritize creating safe, inclusive spaces where all youth feel welcome and empowered to be themselves. Our programs celebrate student voice, encourage risk-taking, and support positive identity development.
The Zones is more than an after-school program. It is a hub of creativity, exploration, and possibility. By offering engaging enrichment opportunities — both to students who attend daily and those who do not — we break down barriers to access and open doors to new futures. Through this work, we help young people build the confidence, skills, and community connections they need to succeed not just in school, but in life.
