The Monarch Summer program is in full swing, as we continue the relationships forged during the school year, reunite with friends from last summer, and build new relationships. Students are also enjoying a variety of exciting classes. Apprentice Program students have been learning about how their own brains work in “Mind Investigations” class, studying brain structure and where information is stored in the brain. They are discovering the many ways that we use our brains each day, and are studying the lobes of the brain and their different functions. Students have enjoyed creating various models of the brain to demonstrate its size, shape, and texture– including a brain made out of Jell-O! Students will also discuss other physical aspects of the brain, including the neuron, and investigate more of the brain’s functions, including memory, relationship building, problem-solving, and language.

The Mind Investigations class ties in nicely to the summer program Executive Functioning curriculum, called “Minds at Work.” This activity series supports executive functioning (EF) skills and relationship development in an atmosphere of problem-solving and fun. Each week, different aspects of EF and relationships are explored through cooperative, interactive thinking games, and all activities are modified to meet the individual needs of each student. Covered skill areas include an emphasis on planning and organizing, self-monitoring, increasing expected actions within a small group, inhibiting unexpected actions, shifting (transitioning) between ideas, and managing emotion in ways that fit social situations.

And where are the Monarch Challenger students? Could they be at Geopolooza at the Museum of Natural History? Or the newly renovated downtown library? Could they be at the Houston Zoo, or at brand new Discovery Park? Maybe you’ve seen them overnighting it at Lake Livingston, but then again they might be at Sam Houston’s homestead! Maybe they are out in Humble delivering more relief packages for Operation Interdependence. They might be in the tunnels of downtown Houston, or in a café practicing conversational skills. We heard that they were splashing up a storm at the local city swimming park, and they might have been sighted at a recent viewing of Kung Fu Panda. Was that them at the Huntsville Prison Museum, and weren’t they putting out several magazines a week from their print shop on Wirt Road? Somebody said that they’d been at the Children’s Museum, and also at several neighborhood libraries. We had hints that they’d been preparing wonderful lunches each Thursday, but then we heard that they were seen landscaping the gardens at the Supported Living homes.

Now there are rumors that a group will be taking on the Texas history of Austin, and then the caves of San Antonio. Really, it’s too hard to keep up – oops, a sighting at the SPCA just came in. If you have any more information on the whereabouts of the Challengers Summer program participants, please notify us immediately. And tell them, if you see them, that the summer reading reports and the home budgeting projects are coming due soon! Click here to enjoy some great snapshots of Challengers in action!