June 16, 2025
from Rudy Ford, director of extended day and summer programs
Pursuing the origin story and history of MPA’s summer program has been a bit like unraveling a mystery. There are distant memories of a small group of students gathering in the morning before dispersing to various locations on campus.
- “What year was it that we gathered in the Gallery?”
- “There were art classes, basketball and soccer, and a theater class. My small part was rocketry, which got expanded after a few years to include paper gliders.”
- “When Panther used the current Family Commons, it was called the Kreisher Gym. There was this massive red curtain in there and Panther had this tiny space behind the red curtain…”
In spite of the fascinating details, MPA’s summer story is a common one. As a matter of need, the “extended day” program was first developed in the mid-90s. Starting out in the original lunchroom, the program has run in various locations—including a pair of Upper School classrooms, the Gallery, and behind the red curtain mentioned above! Its growth was driven by family demand, eventually to include summer programming and adopting the “Panther” brand.
As someone who grew up in his town’s “summer playground,” I have a deep understanding of the importance of these programs. In addition to the care and supervision families need, the opportunity is in providing kids the chance to develop new skills, discover new passions, and receive academic and emotional support. The path to my career in education started at the summer playground program, where I had my first job—teaching swimming lessons.
Panther Summer Programs will serve about 175 students this year, representing about 135 families. Over 50 distinct programs are available. We still offer rocketry, basketball, and soccer, and there are exciting new additions in technology, gaming development, STEM, pickleball…the list goes on. MPA has been a proud partner with Camp Invention since 2018, and our program vendors include Minnesota Skyhawks, KidCreate/KidScientific, Discover Magic, and Snapology.
We’ve seen growth in registrations by non-MPA families, and we expect to be able to report double-digit year-over-year revenue growth for a second consecutive year. These days, we’re managing the program with an online registration system, electronic check-in, and a summer staff of nine. We have a dedicated space—the “former library space” was re-named the Panther Center in 2023. The heart of the program, though, is the same as it has always been. With safe, thoughtful care, kids pursue summer adventures, make new friends, and continue their journeys of learning and growth in an environment aligned with MPA’s philosophy and culture.
