ESON March Meeting Recap: Summer by Design

Even though ESON Coordinator Greg Green was busy adding to his legendary status as a Girl Dad -- congrats to Greg and his family on the arrival of their new baby girl!! -- the ESON vibe continued with a meeting hosted at the Gately Youth Center (thanks to Bo and Joren for hosting!). 

​The meeting focused on the strategic planning and approaches to preparing for summer programming in 2026. The central theme emphasized moving beyond basic "childcare" to create high-quality, creative environments that prioritize youth voice and engagement.

​Key Themes & Discussion Points

• A Journey Through Sunshine and Bliss: The meeting opened with a vision-setting exercise, framing summer as a unique window for "exploration and new possibilities" rather than just a break from school.
• Defining the "Essence of Summer": A significant portion of the session was dedicated to defining what summer means for young people today. This included discussions on:
  • Fostering creativity and play
  • Building meaningful peer relationships
  • Strengthening community connections
• The Power of Youth Voice: A core goal highlighted was the transition of power, ensuring that young people aren't just participants but are active designers of their own summer experiences.
• Quality Standards: The "ESON Community" set specific benchmarks for "Quality Summer Programming," focusing on safety, inclusivity, and high-engagement activities.

Core Goals for Summer 2026

For your reference, here’s a link to slides, which includes a links to input and ideas from meeting attendees, and lifts up three primary objectives for the upcoming season:

1. Creativity: Providing unconventional learning opportunities that spark curiosity
2. Quality: Ensuring consistent, high-standard delivery across all network sites
3. Belonging: Creating spaces where every youth feels seen, heard, and valued