April 2023

Summer STEM AmeriCorps Applications Open 

Know someone interested in working with a summer learning program? Summer STEM AmeriCorps applications are now open. The Summer STEM AmeriCorps members will help build capacity of summer programs by developing and facilitating new, high-quality activities that promote increased social, emotional, math, science, and reading proficiency. Members are placed in summer learning programs across the state and serve from the end of May through end-August. STEM AmeriCorps members receive $4,000 in stipends for living expenses over the summer and a $1,300 education award that can go towards qualifying loans or current educational expenses upon completion of their term of service. Please contact Elva Griffin at egriffin@sppg.com for questions or more information.

Professionals, Caretakers & Leaders

You're Invited!

At this year's summit, you will have the opportunity to attend keynote speakers, gain new

insights, knowledge, and tools during breakout sessions across multiple tracks

(professionals, caretakers, & leaders), and end the day networking with attendees and

presenters during our social hour!

Each ticket includes:

Attendance to full day of learning activities

Lunch served on-site

Certificate of attendance

If cost is a barrier to your attendance, please contact info@tanagerplace.org for limited scholarship opportunities.

STEM Opportunities

For more opportunities from Million Girls Moonshot,

please visit the STEM for Iowa website.

April 22 is Earth Day! Check out this environmental education resource library to bring the concepts of this day into your programs, click here to learn more. 

Make a Candy DNA Model to celebrate DNA Day on April 25- Each human has a unique DNA sequence and the DNA in all of us is about 99.9% identical! In this activity, youth use pieces of candy to make a model for a short section of DNA—enough to get a sense of what DNA is like and how it encodes life. Click here for lesson.

Grant Opportunities

Volunteer Iowa is pleased to announce applications are now open for two grants funded through the Volunteer Generation Fund American Rescue Plan.

2023 ARP Volunteer Generation Fund Youth Service-Learning Grants will be awarded to five K-12 schools each $15,000 in fixed price grants to support the development and strengthening of service-learning programming in K-12 school districts. Youth Service-Learning Grants will help students succeed academically, create meaningful connections within their school and community, improver the overall quality of life within communities, and support students personal and professional development. 

School districts funded under this RFA will be required to

1) Engage a minimum of three new classrooms in service-learning each semester, while maintaining service-learning in past classrooms.

2) Participate in eight service-learning trainings and seven one-on-one coaching sessions. As a fixed-price grantee, schools will not be required to submit a budget for approval for funding expenses, allowing schools flexibility to use funding as needed.

Interested schools may apply or learn more here.

or email Kamryn.ryan@volunteeriowa.org



2023 ARP Volunteer Generation Fund Youth Mentoring Grants will be awarded to four K-12 schools across the state of Iowa. Grantees will each receive $20,000 to support planning and starting new mentoring programs in any school serving students in any grades ranging from K-12.

Schools funded under this RFA will be required to

1) Create policies and procedures for a youth mentoring program;

2) Begin operation of a mentoring program with active mentoring matches; and

3) Create a sustainability plan for a mentoring program beyond the grant funding.

Submit application here or email Mary.sheka@volunteeriowa.org for more information.

Imagine Learning Foundation invites applications for its 2023 funding cycle.

The Imagine Learning Foundation aims to bridge connections between classroom learning and positive learning environments outside the classroom by promoting and expanding access to these programs at home and in the community.

In 2023, the foundation will award up to $300,000 or more to organizations dedicated to supporting the well-being of students outside the classroom, with anticipated grant awards in the range of $50,000 to $100,000.

Applications are due by April 30, 2023, 6PM CST.

Click here for complete program guidelines and application instructions.

Inclusion Spotlight

Dr. Yamina Pressler is a soil scientist, writer, educator, speaker, and artist who is on a mission to make soil a household name. As an educator and scholar at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Yamina shares her enthusiasm for soil science and ecology with undergraduate students while studying the many ways that soil organisms control how soils form and function. Yamina is always looking for creative ways to tell science stories and strengthen our connection to soil through art, writing, photography, and film. Yamina holds a B.S. in Environmental Management and Protection from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and a Ph.D. in Ecology from Colorado State University. She worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Texas A&M University prior to returning to Cal Poly in 2019. When she’s not doing science, you can find Yamina running, watercolor painting, and spending time with her loved ones in the desert. Yamina and her partner, Charley, enjoy soaking up the sunshine in their home in San Luis Obispo, CA. Learn more about Dr. Yamina Pressler here.

Wallace Foundation Resources

Millions of urban children and teens lack access to afterschool programs that provide rich opportunities for growth, learning and fun. One possible solution is to coordinate the work of programs, government agencies, private funders and others involved in afterschool programs—that is, build an afterschool system that is greater than the sum of its parts. Key components of afterschool systems include efforts to improve program quality and collection of data to inform decision-making.

​​Browse reports and other resources the Wallace Foundation provides for insights into making high-quality afterschool programming more readily available to urban young people.

Out of School Time Professional Development Center

The Out of School Time Professional Development Center provides Out of School Time training to OST professionals. The classes provide in-depth curriculum and certificates. If you or your staff are interested in signing up for courses visit the Out-of-School Time website. Check out the entire course catalog here. 

Great Content on Y4Y!

You 4 Youth is a free online professional development site that is designed to support 21CCLC program staff but is a valuable tool for any afterschool professional looking to build their skills! Recently, Y4Y has rolled out a whole module on literacy. Click here to register.

Iowa Child Care Training Registry

Find professional development for school-age programming on the State of Iowa Child Care Training Registry on topics ranging from health and safety to developmentally appropriate programming. Find out more online.

National Afterschool Association PD Resources

NAA provides afterschool professionals with resources to stay up-to-date on the latest topics in afterschool and summer learning. Find out more on their website here. 

Subscribe to the IAA Afterschool Advisor

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