“Having the opportunity to continue structured learning in the summer, along with the social benefits of being with other children in a camp-like setting, will provide these youngsters a chance to build their skills.” – Yvonne Messenger, Assistant Professor of Educational Studies, Brock University
News from Brock University in St. Catharines, Niagara
Posted March 10th, 2026 on Niagara At Large
The Brock Learning Lab is launching a summer program aimed at improving early literacy and foundational numeracy skills for students who have completed junior kindergarten to Grade 2. photo courtesy of Brock University
Niagara, Ontario –When local schools wrap up for summer, the learning — and fun — will continue for primary students at Brock University.
The Faculty of Education’s Brock Learning Lab (BLL) is launching SummerBoost<https://brocku.ca/learning-lab/summer-boost-program/>, which aims to improve early literacy and foundational numeracy skills for students who have completed junior kindergarten to Grade 2.
BLL Acting Director Yvonne Messenger says the initiative, which adds to Brock’s robust schedule of summer youth programming<https://brocku.ca/brock-news/2026/02/summer-camp-registration-opens-march-4/>, meets a significant need in the community.
Messenger says researchers and educators alike are reporting higher rates of language delays and other challenges among children in primary grades who were born, and lived their toddler and preschool years, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yvonne Messenger, Assistant Professor of Educational Studies, Brock University
“Having the opportunity to continue structured learning in the summer, along with the social benefits of being with other children in a camp-like setting, will provide these youngsters a chance to build their skills,” says the Assistant Professor of Educational Studies.
Registration for SummerBoost<https://brocku.ca/learning-lab/summer-boost-program/> is now open, with weeklong sessions beginning Monday, July 6; Monday, July 13; and Monday, July 20.
Faculty of Education instructor and Brock Learning Lab Program Co-ordinator Catherine Susin (BA ’17, BEd ’17, MEd ’18) developed the program alongside fellow BLL site leads Isabella Favero (BA ’24, BEd ’24) and Montana Nethercott (BA ’23, BEd ’23). All three are Ontario Certified Teachers, Brock alumni and current graduate students at the University.
Susin says summer programming has long been requested by families, particularly to help prevent the “summer slide” for students in the primary grades.
In addition to full-group instruction, learners will work in one-on-one and small-group settings, receiving individualized instruction that covers a range of topics.
Participants will boost learning in phonics, spelling, writing, reading and comprehension as well as foundational numeracy skills, including number recognition, addition and subtraction, patterns and spatial reasoning.
Developmentally appropriate games, crafts and activities will promote fine and gross motor development to support learning.
Favero, a SummerBoost lead, says the goal is to make math and literacy exciting with hands-on experiences.
“Every week features a unique theme designed to spark curiosity,” she says. “Students will blast off into outer space, journey through magical worlds or step into the shoes of mystery detectives in our fun-filled program.”
Each of the three weeks in July offer full day programming from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday with extended care available at an extra cost.
More information about SummerBoost, including cost and registration details, is available on the Brock Learning Lab website<https://brocku.ca/learning-lab/summer-boost-program/>.
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