Blooming Heights Edible Schoolyard, a districtwide teaching garden between a cluster of Columbia Heights school buildings, is a highlight of many students' summer learning experience in the Encore program. She stressed that the program is not what families might typically think of as summer school: It's geared toward fun. Some school staff have said Columbia Heights students will need months or years to heal from their experiences last winter. But the palpable joy of learning in the summer program provided some needed relief — and helped students get academic support, too. The garden also provides job opportunities for high school students, funded through a partnership with Anoka County.