Adventure packs keep the learning going over spring break
BUTLER TWP — Despite being off school for more than a week for spring break, students in Butler Area School District elementary schools didn’t go that long without learning.
The Andrew Effect, a nonprofit based in Zelienople, donated “adventure packs” to the Butler Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation, which distributed the educational toy-filled bags to students in its Kids’ Weekend Backpack Program before spring break.
The packs contained different items depending on the students receiving them, so younger students got a children’s book and simple art kits, while students in up to fifth grade received a youth novel and a board game. All the packs also contained seed germination kits for students to grow their own plants over break.
Candace Kantz, president and founder of the Andrew Effect, said she wanted to provide educational materials to students who would be less likely to get those experiences outside of school. She donated the packs to the Kids’ Weekend Backpack Program, which provides food for children.
“The goal of the Andrew Effect is to expose kids in need … exposure and experience,” Kantz said. “Most of the kids in need, they're not participating in after-school activities. We're sending them home with activities, so they can do it there.”
Audray Muscatello Yost, one of the coordinators of the Kids’ Weekend Backpack Program, said the Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation started working with the Andrew Effect in 2022. Kantz got toys and games to the Kids’ Weekend Backpack Program volunteers, who got them to the students in Butler elementary schools.
The donation of educational materials falls in line with the foundation’s mission to provide aid to students in need. And the volunteers who normally pack food into hundreds of bags for distribution to elementary students were up to the toy-packing task, according to Yost.
“She said she wanted to give kids discovery toys,” Yost said of Kantz. “We stood and separated everything into grade levels and into boys and girls.”
Kantz said she gives adventure packs to Butler Area and Seneca Valley school districts twice a year — before winter break and before spring break. Additionally, she gave 125 Valentine’s Day-themed bags to Butler Area School District for the holiday this year.
Kantz formed the Andrew Effect in 2022, and it is named after her cousin, Andrew, who struggled with addiction throughout his life. She said she aims to provide children with creative and educational tools as a way to give them outlets that could prevent them from falling into bad and dangerous habits.
“We are an organization that gives children in need educational toys, books and games, in addition to some other programs,” Kantz said. “Each child receives two high-quality, non-technology driven educational toys. A fourth-grader might get a craft or science kit. A kindergartner might get some pretend clay.”
Previous adventure pack drops by the Andrew Effect have been well-received by students, according to Kim Thomas, founder of the Kids’ Weekend Backpack Program and a teacher at McQuistion Elementary School.
Thomas said the children who get food in their backpacks each week may be pleasantly surprised to see the adventure packs included before long breaks. Getting home and checking out everything inside is likely a fun experience for them. They may also have a younger or older sibling who also gets an adventure pack, adding to the fun of opening them up at home.
“In general, I just know that parents are extremely grateful, whether it's food or toys,” Thomas said. “They're just very grateful, and we hear it more through the kids because they're the ones we hear at school.”
Kantz also said that while students in the Kids’ Weekend Backpack Program are the main target of the adventure packs, they are not the only ones who get them.
“With Butler we work with administration and foundation, depending on the program” Kantz said. “It's not (only) students who get the weekend backpacks who are selected by the counselors.”
Thomas said she herself has been surprised by the items included in adventure packs — all of which is made possible by donations to the Andrew Effect.
“The Andrew Effect, it's truly amazing how much people give,” Thomas said. “It's amazing what she does and the whole process is just amazing.”
Thomas added that providing more than just food to children in need goes a long way to improving their academic potential. Children do better at school when they are not hungry, Thomas said, and they can improve even more if they have tools at home to play and experiment with.
“I just think it's amazing that these kids are being exposed to these educational toys they might not have known about,” Thomas said. “What's nice about the long break is there's lots of toys they can play with.”
