FUN IN THE SUN

Since 1997, United Way of Santa Barbara County has provided Fun in the Sun, a national award-winning summer learning collaborative program involving 80 service delivery partners, 20+ funding partners, and over 600 volunteers. Originally designed to address summer learning loss, FITS has expanded its academic curriculum and services to position itself as a holistic space to support students and their families throughout the summer. Enriched with a robust mindfulness program, STEAM activities, mentorship opportunities, environmental education, and field trips, the program offers hundreds of students and families throughout the community with an enriching summer experience.

2023 Program Dates:

Mary Buren Elementary: June 12th - July 21st, 2023

Santa Ynez Elementary: June 19th - July 28th, 2023

Hollister Elementary: June 19th - July 28th, 2023

Aliso Elementary: June 19th - July 28th, 2023

Franklin Elementary: June 20th - 28th, 2023

McKinley Elementary: June 20th - July 28th 2023

Apply for the 2023 Fun in the Sun program:

Apply for the 2023 Leaders-in-Training (formerly CIT) program:

Fun in the Sun 2023 Employment Opportunities:

Volunteer with Lunch Bunch!

As part of United Way's Fun in the Sun program, we offer an hour-long volunteer opportunity for community members called "Lunch Bunch." Lunch Bunch gives volunteers an opportunity to play games and interact with students in the program, fostering positive adult engagement for the kids and giving volunteers the opportunity to mentor students and share about their lives and career. 

2023 Fun in the Sun Program Video

2022  |  Program Services

2022  |  Results

Why Fun in the Sun?

Local data suggests that parents of students eligible for the Fun in the Sum summer program work on average, 2.2 jobs each. As school lets out for the summer, many parents from low-resource communities struggle to balance an intense workload and lack of resources with the needs of their children. Despite best efforts, many of these children spend the summer alone, without access to learning tools and basic needs that are offered during the traditional school year, like reading help and daily meals and snacks. These students are at the highest risk for summer learning loss, a major contributor to the achievement gap between students from low and high-income households. 

Fun in the Sun provides students and their families with unique and engaging learning experiences to reduce and reverse summer learning loss and narrow the achievement gap, ensuring academic success during the school year and beyond.