PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Each year for nearly six decades, Brown’s Department of Education has offered a three-week summer enrichment program named Brown Summer High School to hundreds of local high school students.

Led by master of arts in teaching candidates, the program immerses Providence-area teens in collaborative learning, engaging discussions and hands-on activities including creative labs and projects. Students take two academic courses to strengthen or expand their knowledge in subjects such as math, science, English or social studies — and this year, program leaders expanded the school day, piloting new, fun after-school activities.

Laura Snyder, faculty director of Brown Summer High School and a senior lecturer in education at Brown, said the new programming was designed to expand learning opportunities for participants.

“For years, we’ve sought to expand opportunities for Brown Summer High School students,” Snyder said. "Our goal with this pilot program was twofold: to support rising ninth graders, who are less likely to have after-school jobs and could benefit from exploring local activities, and to provide more opportunities for multilingual learners to enhance their English interaction skills outside of the classroom."

At no cost to participants, more than 40 Brown Summer High School students joined in on the after-school fun, which included everything from kayaking to zine-making to museum tours — activities that incorporated lessons in art studies, environmental science and other academic areas.

In the first week, students transformed into budding authors and designers as they learned the art of zine-making, led by curators from Brown’s John Hay Library. Together, they explored the library's vast collections, created their own buttons and discovered the world of book preservation. By the end of the week, each student had produced their own unique zine to share with classmates.

During week two, art enthusiasts were invited to explore the Rhode Island School of Design Museum. Guided tours and independent exploration sparked creativity as students sketched and reflected on the intersection of art and their own academic interests.

The final week was an adventure on the Blackstone River. Students learned kayaking skills from the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council and became environmental stewards by identifying and removing invasive water chestnuts. Working in teams, they transformed into eco-warriors, collecting pounds of the harmful plant.

The new after-school programming proved highly successful, and program leaders plan to continue it, Snyder said.

“Students enjoyed building new friendships, discovering interests through hands-on experiences and creating something tangible that they can share with their peers and family,” Snyder said. “They also appreciated exploring Brown and the local community.”

Photos and additional reporting by Emily Kaplin, an AmeriCorps VISTA fellow in Brown’s Department of Education.