SpringBoard Summer Series expands into Arts and Innovation

New course continues program’s history of providing in-demand career exploration opportunities

NAPERVILLE, ILL. — KidsMatter’s popular SpringBoard Summer Series, in collaboration with area schools and partners, has a history of meeting a community need for career exploration in high-demand fields, and this year is no exception. The series is expanding again in its fourth year, and this summer will include a new Arts and Innovation course highlighting creative and emerging careers.

High school students can apply to participate in the first year of this exciting educational experience — or in one of SpringBoard’s other established courses, including Survey of Healthcare Careers, Pharmacy Technician Prep, Trades & Construction, or Physical & Life Sciences. The application period is now open and runs through Sunday, April 12.

Sessions are generally scheduled between early June and early August; exact dates and times vary by course. Courses include both classroom instruction and hands-on field experiences, with previous students visiting sites including Endeavor Health, PowerForward DuPage, Fermilab, Morton Arboretum, Ecolab, North Central College, City of Naperville Police and Fire Departments, Ironworkers Local 63, and a construction site in Downers Grove managed by Bulley & Andrews. The program is grant-funded, so KidsMatter and sponsoring organizations cover all costs for coursework and field experiences. Interested students can visit kidsmatter2us.org/springboard-series/ for details and to apply.

KidsMatter and key community partners, including College of DuPage, Naperville Community Unit School District 203 and Indian Prairie School District 204, launched the SpringBoard Summer Series in 2023, beginning with the Survey of Healthcare Careers. A grant from the Endeavor Health Community Investment Fund allowed KidsMatter — which is now celebrating its 25th year serving Naperville-area youth — to begin developing this innovative way to expose high school students to practical workplace experiences.

“KidsMatter was designed to meet emerging challenges, and since our founding, we have always leaned in to spaces of need to support youth and families,” said Nina Menis, CEO & Executive Director of KidsMatter. “In developing the SpringBoard Series, we’ve listened to student voices, community interest and data about high-growth career fields to create a program that helps prepare our youth for their futures.”

As SpringBoard has expanded each year, so has KidsMatter’s network of partnering organizations. SpringBoard partners also benefit from the opportunity to build a pipeline of interested students and create excitement about their work. These partnerships and collaborations allow KidsMatter to continue building on its founding purpose — developing connections among a coalition of adults who are dedicated to supporting young people and families in our community.

“What I like about SpringBoard is it gives a variety of experiences that allow students to explore their interests and better guide their energy toward a future career,” said Ryan Lauterwasser, KidsMatter’s board chairman and Manager of Inpatient Services at Endeavor Health’s Linden Oaks Hospital. “SpringBoard has been great with opening the door for students to find their pathway — and for us as an employer to connect with the next generation.”

Organizations interested in becoming a SpringBoard Summer Series partner are invited to contact Menis at nina@kidsmatter2us.org.

“Whatever KidsMatter does, we do not do it by ourselves,” Menis said. “It’s all about partnerships.”

For details about specific SpringBoard Summer Series courses or to apply, visit kidsmatter2us.org/springboard-series/.

Students gather seeds on the Fermilab prairie last summer during the Physical & Life Sciences program of KidsMatter’s SpringBoard Summer Series.

About SpringBoard Summer Series: With five course tracks spanning popular and high-demand career fields, KidsMatter’s SpringBoard Summer Series is now entering its fourth year. Naperville-area high school students ages 16 and older with an interest in health care, pharmacy, construction management and trades, physical and life sciences, or arts and innovation are encouraged to apply. These programs are funded by the Endeavor Health Community Investment Fund, Lisle Township Community Mental Health Board, Milton Township Community Mental Health Board, AMS Industries, Bulley & Andrews, Sunbelt Rentals, Inc., Power Forward DuPage, Marquette Companies, Ryan Hill Group, Fermilab, Bosch, Ecolab, DuPage Foundation, Budget Blinds of Naperville, KidsMatter Senior High Board, College of DuPage, Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce Team B2B, Naperville Community Unit School District 203, Indian Prairie School District 204, Elmhurst School District 205, Lisle School District 202, Benet Academy, and Endeavor Health, which includes Edward Hospital, Elmhurst Hospital and Linden Oaks Behavioral Health Hospital, and other key partners (see website). Watch for a list later this summer of all of our field experience partners. Visit our website to explore the incredible sponsors.

About KidsMatter: Recognized as Naperville’s proactive, youth-oriented human services organization, KidsMatter’s mission is to build resilient kids who say “no” to destructive choices and “yes” to endless possibilities. Established in 2001, and now celebrating its 25th year, KidsMatter empowers kids to realize their purpose, know their value, and discover their pathway through programs addressing youth mental health, leadership development and career exploration. A leader among nonprofits, KidsMatter harnesses the power of partnerships to help young people build developmental assets, including positive values, healthy relationships and self-esteem. KidsMatter has been highlighted by NBC 5 Chicago’s Making a Difference in 2024 for providing Youth Mental Health First Aid courses and by CBS News Chicago in 2023 for the Kindness Counts Campaign. With programming focused on preventing problems in the lives of youth before they start — and an extensive network of parents, educators and resources — KidsMatter equips youth and families with essential tools to manage the societal pressures and stresses of everyday life.