It’s been an exciting summer for many of Cranston’s students who have been participating in Camp XL at Gladstone School.

A six-week, hybrid program for students ranging from elementary through high school, it’s not your typical summer school nor your typical summer camp. Rather, it’s a unique combination of both hands-on, experiential, service-based learning and fun, physical activity.

At Camp XL, relationships are built. Older students mentor younger students, and friendships are made. Community partnerships are established, and summer learning loss is not only avoided, but gains are made and carried into the next school year.

Usually split between several locations and traditionally separated by age groups, the program this year has been fused as a result of building work taking place at Bain Middle School, where the older students are typically housed. This has proven to be beneficial, by all accounts, forging relationships and partnerships across age levels and helping create teaching partnerships between community organizations as well.

A collaboration between both public and private organizations, Camp XL would not be possible in Cranston without the financial support of the United Way of Rhode Island, Hasbro, private donations and the state’s General Assembly.

“This is a number of non-profits, school systems and state government all working together. You can do a lot more when you work together,” Anthony Maione, president and CEO of United Way, said. “I never leave a visit from these programs without a big smile on my face and without being inspired. We get amazing results when a lot of community groups lean in to ensure the success of these programs.”

According to Joseph Morra, senior project manager for summer learning at United Way, the Hasbro Summer Learning Initiative (HSLI) was developed as a partnership between United Way and Hasbro as a means of answering the need for high-quality summer learning programs aimed at combating summer learning loss.

“The programs are academic at the core, but yet hands-on, experiential learning with real life applications. In addition to academics, our programs are teaching the soft skills – persistence, perseverance, communication, tenacity and grit,” Morra said. “In 2012, we had 11 programs, then 16 in 2013, and this year in 2014 we have 17 programs. The need is there. The initiative is growing.”

Ayana Crichton, director of the summer program in Cranston and the district’s after school programs, emphasized that one of the secrets to the success of the program is the fact that all of the educators participating in Camp XL are either teachers in the Cranston Public Schools or substitute teachers in the schools, and all work in the after school programs.

Another critical partner in the program has been Chris Lavendier, head of youth programs at the Cranston YMCA, who has helped to infuse Camp XL with physical activities as well as theater, dance and the expressive arts.

“It’s truly a collaborative effort,” Lavendier said. “We’re so grateful to have this partnership together with the academic portion of the program.”

Crichton said the camp day begins with all students gathering together into one room with a morning meeting and ends in the afternoon with an all-groups activity as well, emphasizing the relationship building that is so important to the program.

Throughout the day, the students are broken up into smaller groups for their academics and other activities. Pre-tests and post-tests are given to assess and measure the learning gains and achievements in reading and math skills as a result of the program each summer. Students have also participated in a history class this summer, studying local history including the Amasa Sprague murder mystery.

Another critical part of Camp XL is the service learning aspect of the program.

“The students connect with each other and other community partners on various projects such as planting a garden at the school, building picnic tables, painting them and writing letters to community leaders advocating for utilizing their projects throughout the city – putting the picnic tables in parks, for example,” Crichton said.

At the end of the program the students, will be participating in a “Kidpalooza: Community in Action” event to emphasize the service learning aspect of their summer. It is planned to run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 15 at Gladstone School, and the students have been preparing for the event as well as inviting many community vendors, leaders and partners to show off all they’ve done.

“This program keeps kids out of gangs, away from violence, and we want our community partners and vendors to see them in a positive light to recognize and appreciate all that they can contribute,” Crichton said.

Crichton shared that Camp XL, Kidpalooza and the community relationships being built are all part of her five-year plan for the future.

“We have so much culture, so many community leaders, so many parents and connections here,” she said. “This program has created a partnership with Gladstone and Bain and the YMCA all working hand-in-hand. I want this to continue to build over the next five years.”