For New Hampshire’s working parents, summer programs are a lifeline not a luxury

When people think about summer in New Hampshire, they often picture camps, swimming, hiking trails, playgrounds, and long afternoons outside with friends. But for many working families, summer brings something else entirely: stress.

Just this week I was told by a parent that they needed to find alternative care for the summer because their local 21st Century Community Learning Center cannot operate in the summer months. That is just one parent. Across New Hampshire, parents are trying to answer the same difficult question: “What am I going to do with my child while I work?” Parents do not stop working in the summer, and care is still needed for them to continue working.

As the network lead for the New Hampshire Afterschool Network, I spend a lot of time talking with afterschool and summer programs across our state. I hear from directors who have to condense programs because they have limited staffing; families searching for affordable, quality options; and youth-serving organizations doing everything they can to meet growing community needs. I also hear from families who simply run out of options.

That is why the newly released Afterschool Alliance summer data is so important.

According to the report, more than 35,000 New Hampshire children whose parents want them enrolled in a summer program are unable to access one. Nearly 1 in 2 children who could benefit from the opportunities summer programs offer, can’t access one.

And this is not because families do not value these opportunities. Parents overwhelmingly do. Actually parents who are able to find a summer program give it a 95% satisfaction rate.

The reality is that programs are often too expensive, too far away, full, or simply unavailable in many communities. Cost was identified as the biggest barrier by New Hampshire families, followed by transportation and location challenges. 

For a rural state like New Hampshire, that transportation barrier matters. Families may have a program 20 or 30 minutes away, but there is no reliable way to get there. Other communities may have only a handful of summer options available at all, due to numerous reasons. Even when programs exist, many families cannot afford the tuition while also balancing the current cost of living. 

What stands out to me most is that summer learning is still often treated like an “extra” instead of what it truly is: support for children, families, and the workforce.

Summer and out-of-school time programs are not just places that “keep kids busy.” They are spaces where children build friendships, confidence, leadership skills, and connections with caring adults. They provide meals, physical activity, STEM learning, arts, mentoring, and emotional support. For many young people, these programs are also protective spaces that reduce isolation and help them stay connected to their communities. They also make it possible for parents to work.

In conversations about childcare in New Hampshire, school-age children are often left out entirely. Yet families with elementary and middle school-aged children still need supervision and support during the summer months. Parents are reporting their children are not emotionally mature or responsible enough to stay home on their own at that age.

And the demand is there. Ninety percent of New Hampshire parents support public funding for summer learning opportunities.

Across New Hampshire, programs are stepping up every day. Organizations like Project Promise in Bristol are helping youth build leadership skills and community connections through their Youth in Government Club. Programs like Rochester Child Care Center focus their program on nature making sure youth have a safe and engaging location to explore. These programs continue to show up for youth but cannot do it alone. We need community help and support. Afterschool and summer programs need to be included in the broader childcare conversation.

Every child deserves access to summer programming where they can explore, create, connect, and ultimately thrive.

Summer does not have to be a struggle. But getting there will require us to stop viewing summer learning as optional and start recognizing it as essential.

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Sonjia Tainter is the network lead for the New Hampshire Afterschool Network, where she works to connect, support, and elevate out-of-school time programs across New Hampshire. As an OST kid, consumer, and career professional, she brings a deeply personal and people-centered perspective to strengthening quality, partnerships, and opportunities for youth and the professionals who serve them.