AfterSchool HQ

Career awareness starts long before high school.

Join us on June 11 at 12:00 PM ET for Beyond the Classroom: Building Career Awareness in Out-of-School Time, a free virtual workshop designed for OST professionals looking to help students explore future pathways through everyday programming.

Led by Michele Timmons, Founder & CEO of EnvisionEdPlus, this interactive session will provide practical, scalable strategies to build employability skills, self-awareness, and career exploration opportunities for elementary and middle school youth.

✨ Discover actionable activities you can implement right away
✨ Learn from a nationally recognized education and workforce readiness expert
✨ Connect with fellow OST professionals committed to student success

Don't miss this opportunity to empower the next generation of learners and leaders.

📅 June 11, 2026
🕛 12:00 PM ET
🔗 Register today! https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/u3yUbN97RyG4IHWJi3cS8w #/registration

Not all praise is created equal, and some of the most common things adults say to encourage kids can quietly undermine their confidence over time. This quick, research-backed read from Understood.org breaks down which types of praise genuinely empower kids who learn and think differently, and which ones backfire despite good intentions.

A small shift in language. A big difference for kids. 💛

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This is one of the largest federal funding opportunities for youth organizations. The Promise Neighborhood program funds community-based efforts to improve academic and developmental outcomes from school readiness to high school graduation in underserved communities.

Award range: $4,000,000 – $6,000,000
Number of awards: Up to 12 Application deadline: August 6, 2026

🔗 View the Grant: grants.gov/search-results-detail/362347

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Looking for new ways to fund your programs? 💡

Join Ohio’s Grant Gurus at EnvisionEdPlus for a FREE workshop:

🎤 How Competitive Grants Can Sustain Innovation in Lean Times
📅 May 28, 2026
🕛 12:00 PM EST

Learn how to assess grant readiness, build funder confidence, and strengthen your grant strategy. 🚀

Save your spot today! https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/W7PUFEE1QLeQRAzfe6WOog #/registration

The National Summer Learning Association released a free summer planning toolkit for 2026. ☀️

It includes resources for scheduling, staff training, program frameworks, and planning checklists, useful if you're in the middle of summer prep right now.

📥 Free downloadable PDF
🔗 Get it here: summerlearning.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026-BOOTCAMP-RESOURCE-TOOLKIT.pdf

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The spring 2026 issue of Afterschool Today from the National AfterSchool Association focuses on recognition and workforce retention. 🏆

Contributors explore how leadership practices, organizational policies, and workplace culture impact staff engagement, and ultimately, the youth you serve.

If you're thinking about retention strategies or building a stronger team culture, this issue covers practical insights worth reading.

📖 Free digital magazine
🔗 Read it here: flipsnack.com/8857BBDD75E/spring-2026-afterschool-today

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The Glenn W. Bailey Foundation offers STEM grants up to $25,000 across four funding tracks, from Pre-K through post-secondary programs. 🔬

Since there's no fixed deadline, you have flexibility in when you apply. Just make sure your program data and impact documentation are ready before you submit.✅ Eligibility: 501(c)(3) organizations in good standing

💰 Award: Up to $25,000
📅 Deadline: Rolling

Learn more: gwbaileyfoundation.org/programgrants

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Join our free professional development opportunity on May 14 at 12 PM EST for Prove It or Lose It: Moving from Activity to Impact in Youth Programs with Dr. Teresa Thompson-Pinckney, Founder & CEO of Vision Shift Catalyst.

In this session, you’ll learn how to:

• Move beyond tracking activities and start measuring meaningful outcomes
• Build a realistic evaluation strategy your team can actually implement
• Use your data to strengthen your story and stay grant-ready year-round

Perfect for youth development and after-school professionals looking to improve programs and sustain funding 💡

Register Now: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Frgjr-YYROK7XzLVa-_NyQ #/registration

Learning becomes a fun adventure when it starts with play! 🎉 This wonderful free set from Nickelodeon, shared through Mizzen Education, truly captures this idea. 🎮✨

Designed for students in grades 3–5, these activities are a delightful mix of creativity, problem-solving, and real-world exploration, inspiring young minds to think, create, and collaborate happily together. 🌍

Grade level: 3–5 | Free | Platform: Mizzen Education

🔗 View the Collection in bio.

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The Young Entrepreneur Institute's OST Pitch Challenge offers K–12 programs a hands-on opportunity for students to develop and pitch ideas, enhancing creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and presentation skills. No experience needed.

Students compete by grade band, making it inclusive for all ages. Funders value outcomes. 📋

Entry deadline: July 31, 2026. Cost: Free.

🔗 Registration link here: https://www.youngentrepreneurinstitute.org/programs/program/young-entrepreneur-pitch-challenge/out-of-school-content
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