Pistons batter Hank Dobson takes a cut in the on-deck circle as he awaits his turn to bat during a baseball game for 7-and-under youths at the Youth Sports Inc. fields. Many Lawrence kids will be participating in organized sports and other activities during summer vacation from school.

School is out. Now what?

Educators say young people should have fun in the sun this season, but they also urge children to stay active – exercising both their bodies and brains.

“We want kids to be active and do fun activities, whether it’s swimming or sports or the arts and all those fun things that Lawrence has to offer,” New York School Principal Nancy DeGarmo said. “But the most important thing is to continue to do some reading every day.”

Research has shown that some children can fall back during the summer and lose up to two months of learning, DeGarmo said.

“The more you fall back, then that means we have to make that up again when school starts,” she said. “It’s a continual fall back, try to gain ground, fall back, try to gain ground.”

Keeping up on reading and math skills doesn’t have to be a chore for children, educators said.

Quail Run School Principal Debbie Tann suggests parents be role models for children by having family reading time. She also urged parents to turn off electronic devices inside automobiles during trips and said that travel time could be spent talking.

DeGarmo said children can learn by reading anything – from a book to the signs at the swimming pool. And math skills can be fine-tuned during everyday activities.

“Just take a little time to do some math whether you do it in your head while you’re standing in line or riding in your car,” she said. “If you’re at one of the quick food places, add up the amount it’s going to cost for your whole family to eat.”

And for exercising the body, there’s a long list of summer activities available. Youth sports leagues and summer camps abound.

For her second year, Ali Mangan of Hoop Mamas will be attracting hula hoop enthusiasts to South Park, where she leads a free play shop from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday nights.

“It’s really more of a free for all,” she said, “rather an a structured class.”

Mangan said people of all ages and abilities come to the class, where they burn calories without thinking about it.

“It’s a really cool, new type of dance form, but it’s also a form of physical fitness and a form of self expression,” she said. “It’s a new way to exercise that’s fun.”

Former Kansas University football player Roger Ross wants to help children stay in shape and learn how to run better with his Roger Ross Speed Camp, an evening program teaching running techniques.

Ross, a staffer at the Boys and Girls Club, said running properly is important.

“They’re not running correctly,” he said. “Their head is bouncing. Their arms are going from side to side instead of up and down. They’re not running with a good stride.”

His $90 camp will include cone drills, jump rope and explosion training, and it will work to improve speed and flexibility.

Six-year-old Samantha Smithies, who attends Raintree Montessori School, has swimming on her to-do list this summer.

“It’s my favorite time of year,” she said, “because it’s warm.”

Smithies’ mother, Gail Kernes, said the school year and the after-school activities that come with it are busy enough that she allows her daughter down time in the summer.

“All year is the crazy time,” she said. “Summer is to be fun – just about fun and no pressure.”