Resources 4 Families
Why Does Summer Matter for St. Louis Youth?
While summer can be a wonderful time of joy and growth for kids, it can also create setbacks. In fact, children can lose up to 40% of their school-year learning gains over summer break (American Educational Research Association via Forbes) Beyond academic loss, summer can bring a disruption in routine and time left unsupervised, on screens, or at risk for unsafe behaviors while parents struggle to work.
Many St. Louis families lack information about summer opportunities, worry about cost, and face an overwhelming process to plan their summers, leaving our community’s youth vulnerable to learning loss and setbacks.
The Solution: Summer Programs & Resources
Keeping kids engaged during the summer is not only a childcare solution, but an important way to fight summer learning loss and set the stage for their future. In fact, summer camps help kids build life-long skills such as making friends, goal setting, and problem solving (Harvard).
In the words of one St. Louis parent, “My son struggled with behaviors, especially at school. It was life-changing when he attended the [camp] They didn’t just have fun; there was also a lot of character building. My son has completely transformed since attending; even his teachers recognized it.”
![A quote from a St. Louis parent reading: “My son struggled with behaviors, especially at school. It was life-changing when he attended the [camp] They didn't just have fun; there was also a lot of character building. My son has completely transformed since attending; even his teachers recognized it.](https://blueprint4.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Families-Quote.jpg "Families Quote")
Learn about and access summer supports
Summer in St. Louis
For the summer of 2026, Blueprint4 has gone beyond our camp database to launch a comprehensive summer resource guide for kids, teens, and families. Together, with our partners, the Saint Louis Mental Health Board and the St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund, we are working make it easier for families to learn about and access summer supports for their children.
The Summer in St. Louis campaign is designed to save families time researching and help them connect to new resources in the following categories:
Summer camps & programs
Click to see resources
Teen Job & Volunteer opportunities
Click to see resources
Free & Low-Cost Family Activities
Click to see resources
Community Supports
Click to see resources
Looking for more information, have a resource to share, or interested in partnering to support St. Louis youth? Contact Abbey Barrow, Blueprint4 Program Manager at abbey@clark-fox.com or 314-899-5248.