For more than 40 years, Lee County Schools have opened the doors to a different kind of summer learning experience - one where curiosity leads the way, creativity flourishes, and students are encouraged to think beyond traditional classroom boundaries.
The 2026 Kaleidoscope & Periscope Summer Learning Enrichment Programs continued that tradition, bringing together fifth through eighth grade students for a little over a week of interdisciplinary exploration, hands-on discovery, and meaningful connections that extend far beyond textbooks.
From marine biology dissections and visual arts to research projects addressing global waterborne diseases, students embraced opportunities to dive deeply into topics that sparked their interests while developing collaboration, communication, and critical thinking skills.
“We are able to accomplish types of learning over the summer that students don’t have time to access during the regular school year,” said Dillon Crockett, Director of Secondary Curriculum and Advanced Learning for Lee County Schools. “The types of enrichment we are able to provide in the summer is interdisciplinary, concept-based, and in an environment where students are thinking about a topic abstractly. They are moving past the typical hum-drum of learning that they have to engage in just due to the nature of school.”
That philosophy was evident throughout the week as students explored challenging concepts through engaging projects designed to connect science, technology, the arts, and the humanities in meaningful ways.
“Our goal is for this enrichment opportunity to accelerate and spark their learning,” Crockett said. “We want students to be able to think outside the box, to make connections between their subjects and to be inspired to go beyond the minimum expectations for learning that we have for them.”
For sixth grader Nansly V., the hands-on experiences made learning unforgettable. “I was in marine biology and the best thing was getting to dissect some animals,” she said. “We dissected a fish, a shark, and a squid. There are just so many creatures in the water.”
Beyond the scientific discoveries, the program also fostered new friendships and confidence. “Learning to talk to people and getting to make new friends was a great part of the week too,” Nansly added.
Rising sixth grader Yasmin M. found opportunities to explore both her creativity and her academic interests.
“It was mostly about learning, which is great because I love to explore ideas,” she said. “I love that I was able to make a lot of new friends and enjoy these opportunities like in visual arts class. It was nice to be able to express my artistic side,” she beamed while holding up a watercolor self portrait.
Yasmin also did research on waterborne illness throughout the week, presenting it at the final showcase day for parents and fellow students. “It was interesting to learn about diseases that can be present in water,” Yasmin said. “I’ve done my project on Cholera in water and how it affects the world, learning about the cost and how it affects people.”
The experience helped prepare her for the transition to middle school. “This week really helped me feel ready for middle school,” she said. “It helped me figure out how to do work like building slideshows and things like that, but also helped me feel more comfortable communicating with other people and finding new ideas.”
The annual program also celebrated the educators whose dedication has shaped generations of Lee County students. During the 2026 Closing Ceremony, longtime AIG educator and Kaleidoscope instructor Gail Smith received the fourth Mary Hawley Oates Distinguished Service Award from the Lee County Schools AIG Department.
Reflecting on her career, Smith emphasized the collaborative spirit that has defined her work and the Kaleidoscope program.
“I’m so blessed to have worked beside such wonderful people in my career,” she said. “Nobody does this work in isolation. The students, the families, and the staff and professionals I have worked with helped shape who I am as an educator. I am so appreciative of their impact on me.”
She also shared gratitude for the nomination for this award which was submitted by a former student of hers.
“I cannot put into words what your nomination means to me,” Smith told Sara Zulaga, her now-adult former student who submitted a proposal for Smith to be the Mary Hawley Oates Distinguished Service Awardee. “It is absolutely overwhelming and humbling that one of my former students now, as an adult, would remember me and actually go the extra mile to nominate me. I will cherish this nomination and this award for the rest of my life. It is the highlight of my career.”
As another successful summer comes to a close, Kaleidoscope and Periscope continue to demonstrate the power of enrichment learning by giving students opportunities to explore new ideas, discover their passions, build lasting friendships, and develop the confidence to become lifelong learners and future civic leaders.
As Crockett noted, the programs are designed not only to enrich students’ educational experience today but “to raise the ceiling on their future prospects in life, inspire them to tackle real-world challenges and imagine what is possible for them and their communities.”