Energy Express

Energy Express Energy Express is a free, six-week, summer reading and nutrition program for children 1st-6th grade living in West Virginia. The answer: Energy Express

We improve reading levels through books, art, drama, and vocabulary. Energy Express is funded by a grant from AmeriCorps. During the summer many children lose academic skills. Without school breakfast and lunch, many children lose nutritional well-being. Many children have few structured learning opportunities. Summer learning and nutritional losses are greater for children living in rural and low

-income communities. Children living in rural and low-income communities often fall behind during the summer months, starting each school year behind where they were the previous spring. Successive summers of limited learning opportunities may cause children to fall below grade level by the end of elementary school—putting them further and further behind more privileged peers.

The first week of Energy Express is almost over!🎉Our site teams have worked hard to make this first week welcoming and e...
06/19/2026

The first week of Energy Express is almost over!🎉

Our site teams have worked hard to make this first week welcoming and engaging, through their site decor and daily activities. The journey has only just begun, and we can't wait to see what the rest of the summer has in store for us!☀️✨

06/19/2026

Here are the smiling faces of some of our AmeriCorps mentors and Energy Express team members from around the state. 💙💛

Behind every smile is someone helping children feel welcome, encouraged, and excited to learn this summer.

Here are the smiling faces of some of our AmeriCorps mentors and Energy Express team members from around the state. 💙💛Be...
06/19/2026

Here are the smiling faces of some of our AmeriCorps mentors and Energy Express team members from around the state. 💙💛

Behind every smile is someone helping children feel welcome, encouraged, and excited to learn this summer.

Unleashing the power of play through non-competitive games😁!Jessica Harmening helped bring the power of play to life dur...
06/17/2026

Unleashing the power of play through non-competitive games😁!

Jessica Harmening helped bring the power of play to life during our statewide training! Participants explored the value of non-competitive games that foster cooperation, creativity, and free play.

Through hands-on learning, they built a toolkit of engaging activities designed to promote inclusion, teamwork, and joy that they can carry with them throughout the summer!

The First Page of Summer: A PoemBooks were opened,Paint covered hands,New friends gathered,And adventures began.Stories ...
06/16/2026

The First Page of Summer: A Poem

Books were opened,
Paint covered hands,
New friends gathered,
And adventures began.

Stories were shared,
And joy had its say—
Welcome, sweet summer,
What a beautiful first day!

Cheers to all who make WVU Energy Express possible. 💙💛

We are grateful to Brandi Keaton and Jamela Krajeski with the West Virginia Department of Education for spending time w...
06/12/2026

We are grateful to Brandi Keaton and Jamela Krajeski with the West Virginia Department of Education for spending time with all of our Energy Express site teams on June 8.

We learned that dyslexia is more common than many people realize, and knowing what to look for matters. Just as important, the strategies that support children with dyslexia are often good for **all** children.

The training reminded us how powerful it can be to make literacy active, joyful, and multisensory. A few favorite examples:
-Throw, catch, or jump while saying sounds.
-Use a flashlight to “draw” letters.
-Practice writing on a vertical surface to engage both gross and fine motor skills.

These are the kinds of simple, thoughtful practices that help children connect movement, sound, language, and confidence.

Thank you, Brandi and Jamela, for sharing your expertise with care and clarity. Our Energy Express children and site teams will benefit from it this summer. 📚✨

Creating print-rich environments is at the heart of building strong readers, and we were lucky to learn from one of the ...
06/11/2026

Creating print-rich environments is at the heart of building strong readers, and we were lucky to learn from one of the best!

With 42 years in the classroom and 19 summers with Energy Express, Liz Eddy brought unmatched experience and passion to our recent training session. She guided mentors and coordinators through what it really means to create a print-rich environment, and how small, intentional changes can make a big impact on a child’s literacy journey.

Why Do Print-Rich Environments Matter at Energy Express?

A print-rich environment surrounds children with meaningful, engaging text—helping them see that reading and writing are part of everyday life. From labeled spaces and word walls to books, signs, and student work, these environments:
📚 Build vocabulary and comprehension
✏️ Encourage curiosity and independence
💬 Strengthen communication skills
🌟 Foster a love of reading

At Energy Express, we’re creating spaces where literacy comes to life!

This summer at Energy Express, stories will come to life through hands-on learning! 📚🌱Through our Storybook STEM series,...
06/10/2026

This summer at Energy Express, stories will come to life through hands-on learning! 📚🌱

Through our Storybook STEM series, children will connect books with science, creativity, building, and discovery.

This summer, Energy Express children will grow their own beans while learning about seeds, plants, and the plant life cycle.

They will become Wind Warriors, inspired by "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind," as they explore engineering design and simple machines by building their own windmills.

They will also take part in The Flowers that Connect Us, a special global connection project that links Energy Express children with elementary school children in Kenya. Through shared activities and cultural exchange, children will learn about helping communities, learning from one another, and seeing themselves as part of a wider world. 🌍

We are so grateful for this partnership and appreciate Dr. Jennifer Robertson-Honecker, Suzanne McDonald, and Dr. Emma Gardner for training our Energy Express mentors!

We can’t wait to see our students read, wonder, build, connect, and discover this summer! 💛

To learn more about STEMCARE, visit: https://extension.wvu.edu/youth-family/youth-education/stemcare

One-on-One Volunteer ~Train the Trainer ~ Session Spotlight 💙📚Community Coordinators and Site Coordinators recently par...
06/09/2026

One-on-One Volunteer ~Train the Trainer ~ Session Spotlight 💙📚

Community Coordinators and Site Coordinators recently participated in a Train the Trainer session designed to support our one-on-one reading volunteers. They explored why reading aloud is so important, the impact when children are not regularly read to, and strategies to help volunteers make connections and bring stories to life for young learners ✨

Fun fact: our facilitator, Odie Haddix, was one of the original Energy Express mentors in 1994! Now an academic literacy coach with more than 25 years of experience, she is passionate about early literacy and helping children develop a lifelong love of reading 💛

Our model is with us in every aspect of our program!During training, members got to experience first hand how and what o...
06/08/2026

Our model is with us in every aspect of our program!

During training, members got to experience first hand how and what our model is. Through movement, art, and literature our members will impact and uplift the lives of children across West Virginia!

And a huge thank you to for hosting us for training!

Address

805 Allen Hall PO Box 6602
Morgantown, WV
26506

Opening Hours

Monday 7:30am - 4:45pm
Tuesday 7:30am - 4:45pm
Wednesday 7:30am - 4:45pm
Thursday 7:30am - 4:45pm
Friday 7:30am - 4:45pm

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