50th Anniversary of Apollo 11

50th Anniversary of Apollo 11

July 1, 2019

July will mark the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11's successful landing on the moon. It is a perfect opportunity to help youth explore STEM and learn about the Apollo 11 mission while engaging in a fun hands-on activity.

Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week

Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week

April 16, 2019

How about a standing ovation for afterschool professionals? The last week of April (April 22nd through 26th) is Afterschool Professionals Appreciation week.

child eating fruit

Nutrition in Afterschool Programs

March 13, 2019

Afterschool programs provide excellent opportunities to help students build a foundational knowledge of food and nutrition. Youth who develop good nutritional habits are more likely to maintain those habits in adulthood. In your program, you have the ability to help them along their journey. To help you get started, here are a few tips:

seedling growing through concrete

Connecting with Nature in a Concrete Jungle

February 13, 2019

Out-of-school time educators who work in urban settings may feel like they have few to no options for connecting youth to nature. Where is nature in a concrete jungle? But Smith reminds all of humanity that even in the toughest urban settings, the natural world breaks through. It is the educator's job to notice nature and to provide opportunities for children to observe and be curious about it. Likewise, it is the provider's role to introduce nature to a setting when it is absent.