Summer is in full swing throughout the country.

Studying and homework are but a distant memory for the students with another month left until they return to the routine of school.

While students spend the summer playing video games, splashing in the pool and sleeping late, they are also forgetting a portion of what they learned the previous school year.

Research cited in Psychology Today found that students lose roughly a month of grade-level equivalent skills during the summer with the biggest losses coming in math.

Reading is easier to maintain during the summer with books easily accessible through the local library. The Warren County-Vicksburg library has taken steps to combat what has been deemed the “summer backslide” with events throughout the summer.

Story time is held Tuesday though Thursday at 10:30 a.m., and summer learning program activities are held most Saturdays at 1 p.m.

The Vicksburg Warren School District also did its part this summer to combat the loss of knowledge with Camp Inventions held throughout the district.

This is the 11th year the VWSD has held Camp Invention, which uses a curriculum developed through a partnership between the U.S. Patent Office and the National Inventors Hall of Fame and focuses on STEM learning through hands on projects.

Throughout the five sites, 338 students participated in the camp. Many of the students were able to participate thanks to 300 camp scholarships provided by ERDC through the Army Education Outreach Program.

Whether it is simply reading a book, touring the National Military Park or visiting museums in the region, making sure students stay engaged throughout the summer while also having fun is important to being successful in school the next year.

The local programs have done a great job of balancing learning and fun and helping students be more prepared to return to school in August.