Build-A-Bear Workshop founder Maxine Clark's web app that connects parents with a database of children's summer programs has launched in Colorado.
Now parents in Denver, Boulder and North Aurora will be able to search Blueprint4SummerCO for listings and information on various summer camps and programs in their area. The idea is to close the gap of learning loss that can happen while students are on summer break.
"Parents should have access to all the things that are possible in their community so their kids can have a summer of learning and play," Clark said.
The Donnell-Kay Foundation and ReSchool Colorado reached out to the Clark-Fox Family Foundation about licensing the technology, an agreement which operates similar to a franchising deal. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed but like in St. Louis, Blueprint is free for parents to use in Colorado, and there’s no app to download as it can be accessed on any mobile device or computer.
"It's vital to have an advocate in that area," said Allie Cicotte, programs manager. "They know what camps are operating, which school districts to partner with. It's more effective to have a person on the ground."
New this year for the St. Louis app are job postings. Camps that have a listing with Blueprint4SummerSTL can now post job openings on the app, Cicotte said.
Blueprint4SummerSTL launched in 2015 and has had over 250,000 searches. Clark said over 60 percent of camps in the St. Louis app have scholarships available.
"Last year we had almost 8,000 camps listed. Imagine navigating that (alone) as a parent," Clark said. "Our goal is getting more people access to the app."
The $3 billion U.S. summer camp industry saw annualized growth of 3.3 percent from 2013-2018, according to market research firm IBISWorld.