Summer is our Growing Season 2026

The weather is heating up, and so is Identity’s youth programming! Youth and young adults across Montgomery County are gearing up for our summer programs, which offer opportunities to blend summer fun with hands-on learning, field trips, academic enrichment and school readiness activities. And of course, there will be plenty of ways to beat the heat -- including group trips to the pool. 

For example, students at Gaithersburg, Whetstone and Harriet Tubman Elementary Schools and Neelsville Middle School will dive into STEM activities and work on social-emotional skills like conflict resolution and perseverance that support success in school, work and life. Summer outings will take students to art museums and live theater, on hikes and to a working farm. Parents will also have opportunities to participate in workshops designed to help them best support their children’s education. 

The six high school Wellness Centers are open all summer and will continue offering curriculum-based programs that teach healthy decision-making and build healthy relationships. In addition, students will join together for field trips, therapeutic arts programming like drum circles, Encuentros/Gatherings non-clinical emotional support groups, and other activities. Teens can also join The Universities at Shady Grove’s reachHIRE summer program, which coaches high school students for academic and career success.  

For Bridge to Wellness teens, learning will also extend beyond the classroom as students engage in outdoor recreation, mindfulness sessions, World Cup watch parties, and other activities that give teens a safe space to connect with each other and trusted adults. 

And for older youth reconnecting with their education or the workforce, both the Upcounty and Down County Youth Opportunity Centers will launch summer GED programs in July, with classes running through September. Monthly outings and recreational activities will round out the curriculum, helping participants bond and stay motivated and connected.

As Identity’s Chief Program Officer shared, “Across every program, our goal is the same: to help young people feel connected, supported and ready to keep growing long after summer ends.”