As the school year comes to a close, millions of children are home for the summer. Some are bound for summer camp. Others are on their way to vacations with their families. Some will showcase their work at county fairs. Join me as I discuss the origins of these traditions.

Archie, A. (2025, September 27). How the beloved state fair grew from livestock showcases to cornucopias of amusement. Retrieved May 29, 2026, from NPR website: https://www.npr.org/2025/09/27/nx-s1-5546062/state-fairs-history

Brittany. (2022, August 5). County fairs: An American tradition for more than 2 centuries. Retrieved May 29, 2026, from Morning Ag Clips website: https://www.morningagclips.com/county-fairs-an-american-tradition-for-more-than-2-centuries/

Murphy, J. (2015, August 20). A Brief History of Summer Vacation. Retrieved May 29, 2026, from TIME website: https://time.com/3993975/summer-history/

PBS NewsHour. (2014, September 7). Agrarian roots? Think again. Debunking the myth of summer vacation’s origins. Retrieved May 29, 2026, from PBS NewsHour website: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/education/debunking-myth-summer-vacation

Petrzela, N. M. (2017, August 7). Why Fear of Big Cities Led to the Creation of Summer Camps | HISTORY. Retrieved May 29, 2026, from HISTORY website: https://www.history.com/articles/why-fear-of-big-cities-led-to-the-creation-of-summer-camps

Reilly, L. (2019, August 21). Why Do Students Get Summers Off? Retrieved May 29, 2026, from Mental Floss website: https://www.mentalfloss.com/culture/education/why-do-students-get-summers

Roush, A. (2021, June 16). The Surprising Origins of Summer Break. Retrieved May 29, 2026, from TechNotes Blog website: https://blog.tcea.org/summer-break-history/

Stimpson, A. (2024, June 20). The Anxious History of the American Summer Camp. Retrieved May 29, 2026, from Atlas Obscura website: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/american-summer-camp-history