West Virginia Statewide Afterschool Network

08/21/2026

It's easy to learn how to use an AI tool. It's harder to learn how to use it responsibly.

As more and more young people start to experiment with AI technology, how can we ensure they approach it with the care and consideration required to use it correctly and ethically?

Read more from the Afterschool Alliance's Research Fellow Josephine Vu about how afterschool program providers can play an essential role in improving AI literacy:

https://afterschoolalliance.org/afterschoolsnack/Teaching-young-people-how-to-use-AI-is-no-longer-enough_07-31-2026.cfm?fbclid=IwY2xjawTsGapwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5AaVbVHgB0r0l4Dwn_o3Wz1r3oGZ6bFXy3O_0XGYR6iVPeVkBuvztTPFGkng_aem_ipsw_KwnOUGgUlgHa1Khsw

By Josephine Vu, Research Fellow, Afterschool Alliance. A middle school student today can learn how to use ChatGPT in just a few hours after school. Within an afternoon, they may learn how to

08/20/2026

Hands-on engineering activities can help students build collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills from the very start of the school year.

Join this free interactive webinar to explore the Engineering Design Process and participate in a classroom-ready design challenge where participants will create a pencil case that holds five pencils and survives a four-foot drop test.

Participants will leave with practical engineering activities they can bring directly into their learning environments.

August 26, 2026
7:00–8:00 PM EST
Register for free: https://bit.ly/4ahTwqa

08/19/2026

Every young person has a story worth telling! 📖✨ Check out new Story Spark Series, designed to help middle and high school students explore their experiences, overcome challenges, and find their voice.

https://mizzen.org/collections/a12ec51a-94e3-4ca1-94c4-cfa373148b29?utm_source=campaign_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026_plus_me&utm_content=plus_me_week1a_collection_cta

08/17/2026

Too many kids who want to attend an afterschool program can’t. Why? Because it’s either too expensive, too far away, or they simply don’t exist in their community.

Explore the data about barriers to afterschool across the country: https://afterschoolalliance.org/AA3PM/data/national/challenges

08/14/2026

Across the U.S., 3 in 4 kids are missing out on the opportunity to attend an afterschool program. What’s the unmet demand in West Virginia? Is it better or worse?

Explore the data: https://afterschoolalliance.org/AA3PM/data/national/demand

08/13/2026

COMING SOON: Lights On Afterschool!

On October 22, join us to raise awareness about the importance of afterschool by hosting one of many events across the country. This day sends a powerful message—and we want you to be part of it!

Learn more & register: 3to6.co/register

08/07/2026

Register today for this exciting opportunity to learn more about AI literacy and resources to support afterschool!

AI is showing up in classrooms and programs faster than most educators can prepare for. What does it take to use it safely, effectively, and ethically with young people?

Join us on August 19 for Building AI Literacy for Inclusion in STEM: Resources and Strategies from a National Landscape Study.

We will share findings and recommendations from a national landscape study on the current state of AI literacy across STEM learning environments, along with practical resources you can bring back to your own setting. We will also explore how all young people can be meaningfully included in conversations and decisions about AI.

Register now and bring a colleague who is navigating AI in their program: https://buff.ly/990GdIu

Building AI Literacy for Inclusion in STEM is an initiative developed by the National Girls Collaborative Project in partnership with Ingenia Learning and STEM Next Opportunity Fund, made possible through the generous support of the AMD Foundation.

07/29/2026

Afterschool and summer programs are excellent spaces to prepare youth for their future careers. Early exposure to opportunities, understanding the world of work, and skill development enable children to discover their passions in life. But it doesn’t have to be boring or stressful, especially for younger youths. With some activities in place, early career exploration can become interactive and engaging for students. So let’s explore some innovative ways to make learning and job exploration an exciting adventure for kids: https://varthana.com/school/8-fun-and-interactive-ways-to-teach-kids-about-jobs-and-careers/

07/27/2026

Afterschool and summer programs give youth the freedom to explore, experiment, and connect learning to real life. To help programs turn that spark of curiosity into career readiness, STEM Next created the Career-Connected Learning Framework.

This resource assists afterschool program providers in integrating career awareness, exploration, and preparation into hands-on, age-appropriate STEM activities grounded in real-world relevance.

Explore the framework and access recordings that break down key strategies for implementing career-connected learning in your program: https://bit.ly/cclframework

07/24/2026

Summer learning becomes more meaningful when young people can build, test, and solve real-world problems through hands-on STEM experiences.

Youth Engineering Solutions (YES) offers flexible STEM activities for PreK–8 designed for summer learning, afterschool programs, libraries, makerspaces, and STEM camps.

Explore activities by age group: https://bit.ly/4fCfc3X