Summer Exploration Program for Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired

MSB Summer Exploration Programs 2025

When: Session 1: June 23 - July 3, 2025. Session 2: July 7–18, 2025

Registration Deadline: May 15, 2025

Location: Missouri School for the Blind, St. Louis

Application: 2025 MSB Summer Explorations Application

Session 1 (June 23 - July 3):

Set Your Sights on Adventure (Grades 8-12) is a nine-day opportunity for students to explore concepts in leisure recreation and community-based orientation and mobility. During the first week of their Adventure, students will visit a variety of St. Louis-area sites where they will review and develop their orientation and mobility and compensatory (VI) skills while exploring community-based leisure recreation activities.

MSB staff will design each activity and lesson to teach students to optimize their orientation and mobility and compensatory skills to access community-based leisure recreation opportunities and increase their independence within the expanded core curriculum.

The goal of Summer Explorations: Set Your Sights on Adventure is to introduce and help students explore a variety of community-based activities they may continue pursuing as leisure recreation into adulthood.

Sports and Leisure Recreation (Grades 3-8) is a nine-day opportunity for students to explore a variety of sports and leisure recreation activities including rock climbing, bowling, track and field, goalball, etc. Each day students will participate in a variety of fun and educational events that involve sports or leisure recreation. During Summer Explorations: Sports and Leisure Recreation students will be introduced to multiple sports adapted for blind and visually impaired individuals. Students will also explore a number of community-based leisure recreation activities.

The goal of Summer Explorations: Sports and Leisure Recreation is to introduce and help students explore a variety of community-based activities they may continue pursuing as leisure recreation into adulthood.

Sessions 1 & 2 (June 23 - July 18):

Work Training and Experience (Ages 16 – 21, who have not graduated high school) is a 19-day opportunity to work while going to Summer School. During this unique job training program students may participate in employment and employment training opportunities on and off-campus. Students will also learn job-related soft skills including communication, time management, problem-solving, and following instructions. Students will be provided hands-on experience allowing them to practice skills under supervision and receive feedback from the job coach and/or employer. When not working students will be exposed to various career paths allowing them to make informed choices about future employment. Space in the program is limited so apply early.

The goal is to promote student autonomy, improve employability, and facilitate a successful transition from school to work.

Session 2 (July 7 - July 18):  

Explorations in Culinary Arts 2025: Bon Appétit (Grades 8-12) is a 10-day program designed to introduce students who are blind or visually impaired to a variety of skills, techniques, and practical tips designed to make cooking fun, safe, and easy. Bon Appétit, students will participate in a wide range of activities including meal and menu planning, grocery shopping, food preparation and presentation. Students will be introduced to adaptive equipment and techniques for cutting, chopping, measuring, pouring, cooking, and baking. Participants will explore concepts of healthy eating and try appetizers, entrées, side dishes, breakfast dishes, desserts, snacks, and more. Students are expected to try every food and will learn how to critique foods using descriptive words and a rating system. Students will also be introduced to careers in Culinary Arts. During Bon Appétit, students will learn skills by experiencing and participating in a variety of lessons and activities cumulating in a Kids Cook-Off and Demonstration featuring our Bon Appétit participants.

Summer STEM Explorations 2025: Mission to Mars (Grades 3-8) is an exciting and interactive opportunity for students to work alongside our experienced staff to develop skills for scientific inquiry which will allow them to increase their independence when participating in laboratory-based classes. Students will be well prepared for their quest to discover the mysteries of space as they are introduced to modified laboratory procedures, which will enable them to perform laboratory experiments.

During Mission to Mars, students will explore aspects of space exploration, our solar system and STEM careers while participating in activities including rocket design and construction, electronics, scientific experiments and elements of space exploration. Students will design and construct a Space Station, participate in a simulated voyage to Mars, and visit community-based STEM venues.

 

Applications are due May 1, 2025. 

Note: This completed application, MSB Health Center paperwork, and your student's current IEP must be received by MSB by May 1, 2025, for consideration in a Summer Explorations course.

  • Sessions are provided free of charge for qualifying students.
  • Transportation and supervised residential housing during the week are provided for students outside the St. Louis metro area.
  • All students are released at 1:00 p.m. on Fridays and will return home during the weekend.

For more information, parents and school districts may contact:

Desirèe Morris
Assistant Superintendent
314-776-4320
Desiree.Morris@msb.dese.mo.gov