Join me on a summer road trip

Growing up the kid of two teachers, summer vacation was never a break from school. My parents saw every summer as an educational opportunity, peppering my brother and me with questions and activities to keep us engaged. I remember my first long-distance road trip, driving from New Jersey to Minneapolis, crossing over the northern border to visit Toronto and Montreal. Throughout that summer, everything we encountered was a chance to learn and to have fun. Whether it was spotting new license plates to discuss the history of that state or practicing our French verbs as we crossed the border, there were no idle minds in our family’s car.

Preamble (detail), by Mike Wilkins.
In a show of American ingenuity, Mike Wilkins utilized a collection of vanity license plates to phonetically spell out the preamble to the US Constitution in abbreviated script. All fifty states and the District of Columbia are represented in alphabetical order. Though the plates rarely make sense on their own, together they re-create one of the greatest documents in American history. This work represents the meaning of the phrase “the United States” with a fun twist. (Courtesy Smithsonian American Art Museum)

Today, as we swelter through these hot summer months, many of us homebound, I reflect on how valuable these experiences were to me. That’s why, when I think about how the Smithsonian can help people during this difficult time, the answer is clear: education. Throughout months of school closures, we stepped up our offerings to support learners of all ages by ­supplementing school curricula, presenting creative programming, and providing digital tours and online exhibitions, all of which focus most prominently where the need is greatest, in K–12 education.

As we ramp up our remote-learning resources for young people across the country, we also recognize that many of them lack access to a computer or reliable internet access. Our recent rapid transition to online learning in response to COVID-19 made apparent the deep disparities already present in our education system.

Being the leader in education that I believe the Smithsonian can be means bridging the digital divide. This summer, I am thrilled by how strongly Smithsonian educators have committed to that goal, providing low-tech and no-tech educational resources to young people across the country. I am especially pleased by our partnership with USA Today: Summer Road Trip, a summer learning packet made for elementary and middle schoolers.

Full of hands on activities, puzzles, and games, this summer supplement will help young people across the country tackle topics in science, math, history, and art. It brings together resources, collections, and content from units across the Institution, showcasing the full richness of all we have to offer. Through USA Today’s national network, we’ve already distributed about 76,000 copies to organizations that work directly with kids in need of no-tech materials: public libraries, Boys and Girls Clubs, public schools, and several of our affiliate museums. And this first print is just the beginning; we’re already looking at a second print edition to reach even more young people.

Though the travel experiences of my youth may not be feasible this summer, we can still spark the same creativity and curiosity in learners across the country. And we can help ensure that young people, regardless of situation, experience the surprise and delight of a summer adventure.

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