United Way for Southeastern Michigan and Ballmer Group announced that enrollment is now open for the second year of Summer Discovery, a transformative summer learning and enrichment program that is nearly doubling in size from its first year. In 2025, the program will serve more than 32,000 K-8 students at 188 sites across Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties—nearly twice as many students and locations as in 2024.
This expansion is made possible by a $60 million investment from Ballmer Group, reinforcing its commitment to improving educational outcomes and closing opportunity gaps for students in Southeast Michigan. Summer Discovery provides free, full-day instruction and enrichment activities, ensuring students access high-quality learning experiences that keep them engaged and prepared for the upcoming school year.
The program is entering its second summer, following a successful pilot in 2024. Students demonstrated growth in both ELA and math, with average scores increasing by 16 points in ELA and 14 points in math from pre- to post-tests. Educators and families also observed academic growth in students. Additionally, students who started the program the furthest behind academically showed the greatest academic growth.
“Providing high-quality summer learning and enrichment through Summer Discovery is delivering real results. Last year, participating Detroit area students saw gains, including increases in math achievements and educational engagement. The data underscores what parents and families already know: students succeed when they have access to high-quality summer learning opportunities in their communities,” said Dr. Darienne Hudson, president, and CEO of United Way for Southeastern Michigan.
“With nearly twice the number of students able to participate this year, we are thrilled to expand access to this life-changing program and encourage families to enroll now to take advantage of this incredible opportunity.”
What Is Summer Discovery?
Summer Discovery is a full-day summer program offering a mix of academic instruction and hands-on enrichment activities tailored to rising K-8 students. Activities include:
- STEM projects and coding
- Outdoor adventures and field trips
- Music, art, and creative expression
- Sports and wellness activities
- Social-emotional learning experiences
“Summer Discovery provided our students at Henry Ford not only an academic extension of the school year with a focus on math and literacy but also a way to enrich their learning in non-traditional learning environments,” says Mariam Farhat, 2024 Summer Discovery Site Leader and Principal at Henry Ford Elementary in Dearborn, MI. “Over the summer, they had daily opportunities for hands-on science and physical activities that included using our swimming pool and team sports through community organizations such as HYPE. This program allowed for our students to participate in activities they normally would not have the time to do during a regular school year/day.”
How to Enroll
Enrollment is now open, offering families a free, high-quality summer learning option. Parents can explore participating schools and community-based organizations (CBOs) by visiting the Summer Discovery website and Site Finder to locate programs in their area at https://unitedwaysem.org/resources/summer-discovery/
“As a parent, I am grateful for this summer mentorship program. My two sons, Kyon (seven) and Khalil (ten) had the incredible opportunity to engage with dedicated mentors who not only provided leadership development skills and training in mathematics but also served as positive role models,” says Kiada Shanklin, parent of two 2024 Summer Discovery participants. “For the first time in their academic journey, they were able to learn from and interact with educators who inspired them to embrace their potential and pursue their interests with confidence.”
