Summer SPARKS Literacy
Summer Sparks Literacy
Build a Strong Summer Vocabulary
What are your favorite silly songs or rhymes? Think “there was a great big moose” and “he liked to drink a lot of juice!” Summer is a powerful time for youth to grow their language and reading skills and spark learning in unexpected ways.
That’s why we’re celebrating Literacy as part of National Summer Learning Week with the Wyoming Enrichment Network (WYEN)! We all can play a part in helping children and youth grow and practice becoming skilled readers and writers. Let’s dig in.
Why is it Important?
Once we become fluent readers, it can be hard to remember that learning to read doesn’t come naturally. Unlike speaking, our brains must repurpose different regions to form reading pathways.
WYEN Director Michelle Sullivan: “Becoming a reader requires us to weave many different skills together over time. Youth professionals, parents and caring adults have innumerable ways to grow and extend children’s exposure to words.”
Summer is an ideal time to grow kids’ background knowledge and vocabulary in enjoyable ways. More words matter! The more children know about the world, the more they can use that knowledge to understand.
Examples of Literacy Work Happening in Wyoming
Did you know that libraries across the Cowboy State have access to tools and resources that help prevent summer learning loss?
Joanne Pruitt, Wyoming State Library Youth Services Consultant and the state’s representative for the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP), is a champion of this work. She says, “The summer resources through CSLP (found at libraries across Wyoming) beautifully illustrate how summer library programs not only prevent summer learning loss–they also boost creativity, foster community connections, and further access to essential supports.”
This year’s theme, “Color Our World,” invites communities to celebrate art, creativity, and the many ways expression enriches our lives.
In Natrona County, the library brought the theme to life with a Reader’s Theater performance called “Reading Colors My World!” Youth Services staff used puppets, music, laughter, and storytelling to celebrate the joy of reading in every shade. And in Fremont County, the Riverton Library took things literally! Art teacher Erin LeBeau led a two-week collaborative mural project where young people worked with staff to create a mural for the children’s section. Now that’s “coloring our world!” These hands-on activities didn’t just build literacy—they also help young people feel connected to their communities.
CSLP’s 2025 Summer Reading Champion Katherine Applegate: “There’s something especially magical about libraries during the summer…You can surprise yourself with stories you might not have had the time or opportunity to read during the school year.”
Try This! Activities for Programs and Families
Activity 1: Explore Outside: Invite the whole family to explore your neighborhood, a local park, or the area around your library. Discuss what you see—animals, plants, shapes, colors, or even the letters on street signs. Encourage everyone to share their observations, and don’t forget to bring a journal to record your adventure through writing or sketches. You can even add some colorful sidewalk art with chalk! Nature walks not only create lasting memories but also help strengthen literacy skills and provide valuable exercise for both body and mind. Be prepared for your family to revisit the stories from your walk and get excited about the next one. Plan your walk with a stop at the library, where you can discover books about native birds and plants, how to build animal enclosures, or even a classic story of a child in a red cloak meeting a sly wolf in the woods. *Suggested by Jenn Beckstead, Natrona County Library Youth Services Manager
Activity 2: Play with Light and Shadow: Use the Leap into Science resources to help young people build their vocabulary. Try a simple flashlight activity to explore how light moves through different materials. Grab a few household items like tissue paper, cardboard, and plastic wrap. If you’re inside, shine a flashlight through each one. If you’re outside, you can hold the materials up to the sky. Talk about what you see using words like transparent (light passes through), translucent (some light passes through), and opaque (no light passes through). Ask questions, make predictions, and go on a “light hunt.” This hands-on play isn’t just fun—it helps build science understanding and the vocabulary kids need to make sense of the world around them. Dig into the science behind this activity and get more ideas at wyoenrichmentnetwork.org/leap-into-science.
Activity 3: Create a Superhero with Mizzen: Take advantage of the buzz around the new Superman movie! Kids read age-appropriate superhero books, then dream up their own hero and create a comic strip to show them in action. This activity is great for building reading comprehension, creative thinking, and storytelling skills. And it’s a blast to share with friends or family. Get your free account and access the activity: Superhero Comics.
Activity 4: Sing the Moose Song: Do you want to learn more about the great big moose who liked to drink a lot of juice? Meet Fred in this great sing-along from Scratch Garden.
Expert’s Corner
Laramie County School District 1 Elementary Library Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) Michelle Ottoes joined WYEN Director Michelle Sullivan to talk about the Science of Reading and shares recommendations and resources. Watch the video!
Keep Learning!
Want to see more? Visit wyoenrichmentnetwork.org/summer-sparks to explore other stories. Share your own summer learning experiences using #SummerLearningWeek and #ThriveBeyondTheBell.
Igniting Curiosity, Connection, and Growth All Summer Long
The Wyoming Enrichment Network is celebrating National Summer Learning Week (July 14–18, 2025) by spotlighting the amazing ways communities across the state are helping young people stay curious, connected, and growing all summer long.
Mission: We bridge the gap between Wyoming’s out-of-school programs and the communities they uplift, fueling them with resources, support and opportunities that inspire lifelong learning, growth and connection.
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