Step Up empowers middle school students to excel academically and personally by providing a supportive environment where their social, emotional, and educational needs are met through dedicated one-on-one and small-group mentoring.
Summer Application Now Open
🔍 What to Expect?
✔️ Hands-on science experiments 🔬
✔️ Creative writing & storytelling ✍️
✔️ Interactive group activities 🎉
Your child will explore new ideas, build confidence in their studies, and have a blast doing it!
Program Dates: June 16–July 31 (no Step Up June 30–July 3)
Hours: 8:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m., Monday–Thursday
Grade Level: 6–8 Apply Now
Through this program, students receive personalized guidance, academic assistance and encouragement to build confidence, develop essential life skills and reach their full potential. By fostering meaningful mentor-mentee relationships, Step Up helps students navigate challenges, set and achieve their goals, and cultivate a strong foundation for future success in school and beyond.
“Step Up helps me do better on my homework and study more.”
—Anelise, Holland West K–7
We provide:
- Academic Support: Students receive help with their homework and improve academic skills by working with a mentor individually or in small groups (maximum 1:2 ratio)
- Mentoring Relationships: Students receive homework assistance and enhance their academic skills through individualized mentoring or small group sessions
- Enrichment Programming: Students participate in additional educational, cultural and social activities on site and in the local community with their mentors
- Summer Program: Students are invited to learn in an interactive summer program and grow their academic and self awareness as well as consider future educational possibilities
- Parent Support and Involvement: Parents attend special sessions alongside their students to learn about issues facing their children and ways to best support them
