United Way, in collaboration with Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, Patriot's Gateway Community Center, Rockford Park District and Youth Services Network, offers a weekly Summer Learning Zone program for children living in Ellis Heights and Midtown District neighborhoods. The program helps students avoid the "summer slide", which occurs once school doors close for the summer.

Students work on math, reading, and writing in addition to participating in activities covering a variety of social and emotional topics. The topics include environmental issues, health and wellness, goal setting, education, hygiene, bullying and relationships.

Youth Services Network assembled a book that highlights work done by the students in Fairgrounds.

> Summer Learning Zone: Fairgrounds 2015 Summer Book