"[W]ithout practice students lose reading skills over the summer months and children from low-income families lose the most." (Research in Brief - How to Make Summer Reading Effective from National Summer Learning Association). There are an estimated 806,199 children and teens (ages 5 to 19) in Virginia(Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service).  In a 2014 Census Brief, it was noted that school populations in Virginia are expected to increase,but…"By 2018, 40 percent of Virginia public school enrollment will be in Northern Virginia, compared to 30 percent in 2000. Overall, in the rest of Virginia, public school enrollment will decline, with the largest decreases outside of Virginia’s Urban Crescent due to low birth rates and few families moving to these. . . .School boards and division leaders may need to consider eliminating selected programs and extracurricular activities, or closing or merging schools. Each program or sport eliminated risks creating a gap in educational quality between population-and resource-rich urban schools and those in rural communities – at a cost to the Commonwealth overall ”(https://demographics.coopercenter.org/sites/demographics/files/CensusBrief_VASchoolEnrollmentTrends_UVACooperCenter_Nov2014_0.pdf).

According to America After 3PM, in 2014, 18% of Virginia’s children were alone and unsupervised between the hours of 3 and 6 p.m. These children were unsupervised after school in 2014 for an average of 7.73 hours per week. Most surveyed parents agreed that after school programs can help excite children about learning, help children gain workforce skills,  and can help reduce the likelihood that youth will engage in risky behaviors.
(http://v-post.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=162&Itemid=41)

For these reasons, the Library of Virginia coordinates and supports summer reading programs and supports learning inside and outside of the classroom.

The Library of Virginia supports informal learning with a collaborative project with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Science Museum of Virginia.  The project provides nature-themed backpacks designed to help families, Scout groups, homeschoolers and other groups explore nature and learn science concepts while visiting a Virginia State Park.    Ideally four backpacks would be placed in a library branch and be checked out for at least two weeks using a Virginia Public Library card.

We have placed 816 Nature Backpacks in 213 libraries across Virginia.  In the image located at http://www.lva.virginia.gov/lib-edu/LDND/nature_backpacks.htm, the blue images are the libraries that began participating in 2016 and the yellow represent the libraries that began participating in the 2017.  The trees represent Virginia State Parks.

Funds were expended for replacement backpacks and materials in this ongoing program.

We request patrons using the Nature Backpacks to complete exit surveys.  Below are results of these surveys from October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018.   
 
I plan on sharing information I know about available materials resources and services provided by the Library with family and friends. 95% strongly agree, 2.5% agree, 2.5% strongly disagree.

I think the materials resources and services provided by the library are very useful hands-on learning tools. 95% strongly agree, 2.5% agree, 2.5% strongly disagree.

I learned something new while using the materials resources and services provided by the library.
70% strongly agree,  10% agree, 2.5% disagree, 2.5% strongly disagree.

The materials resources and services provided by the Library made learning more exciting & understandable. 87.5% strongly agree, 10% agree, 2.5% strongly disagree.

The number of people that used the materials and resources and services.
 0-1 people 5%, 2-3 people 45%, 4-5 people 40% and 6 or more 10%

I will likely use the materials resources and services provided by the library again in the future.
97.5% strongly agree, 2.5% strongly disagree.