Each summer, The Big Lift’s Inspiring Summers program transforms classrooms into vibrant spaces where children discover the joy of learning while building foundational literacy skills. This past summer, that transformation reached 928 students across San Mateo County, giving them opportunities to grow as readers and confident, curious learners.
By The Numbers*
- 94% of staff said they saw students improving in reading and writing.
- 95% of students found joy in learning new things.
- 90% of parents felt valued as partners in their child’s experience.
Over 90% of families said their children gained confidence, problem-solving skills, and greater eagerness to participate.
Our Approach
Inspiring Summers is designed to help children maintain and build on what they’ve learned during the school year while preventing summer learning loss. In 2025, classrooms and activity spaces came alive with:
- Instructional strategies grounded in the science of reading, woven into daily activities.
- Engaging literacy lessons and conversations that boosted vocabulary and comprehension.
- Talk-rich afternoons featuring hands-on STEAM exploration.
- The same phonics curriculum used during the school year, ensuring continuity and consistency.
The approaches not only supported academic growth but also gave children the chance to build friendships, develop problem-solving skills, and discover new passions.
District Highlights
This year marked the first Inspiring Summers in the Bayshore, Millbrae, and Pacifica school districts. All three programs were a resounding success, with families and staff celebrating the sense of belonging and growth that emerged.
Kate Snyder, The Big Lift Literacy and Summer Program Lead, reflected on the community impact in Pacifica:
“Inspiring Summers provided a joyful, welcoming space where students and families could build new relationships and feel a sense of belonging. Several families shared heartwarming sentiments about how much their child(ren) grew as a reader through Inspiring Summers.”
An Investment in the Future
The success of Inspiring Summers 2025 shows once again that when children are surrounded by support, especially during the summer to prevent learning loss, they thrive. Inspiring Summers continues to be a powerful investment in our children and in the future of San Mateo County, and we look forward to Inspiring Summers 2026 and beyond.
Learn more about how The Big Lift supports early literacy in San Mateo County here.
*Based on 2025 Inspiring Summers staff survey of 201 respondents, and 2025 Inspiring Summers family survey of 468 respondents.