Bringing Afterschool to the Capitol

The Iowa Afterschool Alliance held Capitol Connection Day on January 14th at the Iowa State Capitol. This event brought together afterschool students and program leaders for short, meaningful conversations with legislators about what afterschool programs make possible across Iowa.

Throughout Capitol Connection Day, legislators stopped by to speak with youth and program leaders, hear their afterschool experiences, and learn what programs need to keep serving students well. Participants shared personal stories, discussed local program impact, and helped make afterschool visible at the Capitol.

Capitol Connection Day reinforced what we know to be true: when kids have access to high-quality afterschool programs, they build confidence, strengthen relationships, stay engaged in learning, and explore interests that shape their future. Afterschool also supports working families and strengthens communities.

Afterschool is one of Iowa’s strongest tools for supporting youth. Find your local afterschool program and support it. Our kids are worth showing up for.

America After 3pm

“If there wasn’t an afterschool program, it would create challenges for our family, including finding alternative child care, adjusting work schedules, and potentially increasing stress while managing family responsibilities and daily routine.”  

Parent Quote from America After 3pm Report

Looking for an easy way to bring creativity into your afterschool program? Crayola Creativity Week is a fun, cross-curricular celebration that helps students build creativity through engaging activities tied to literacy, STEAM, SEL, and more. It can be used as a schoolwide celebration or adapted for classrooms, libraries, afterschool programs, and community spaces.

Saturday,

February 7, 2026

9am-2pm

Dordt University

STEAMFest 2026

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and Dordt University are excited to announce the return of STEAM Fest. STEAM Fest is a day of science, technology, engineering, math and art hands-on learning for youth in grades 4 through 8.

Registration & more information can be found at this link.

Supporting Youth with Chronic Health Conditions in OST

Youth with chronic health conditions participate in out-of-school time (OST) programs every day, and with the right support, these environments can play a powerful role in their overall well-being. This training equips OST professionals with the knowledge and strategies needed to create safe and supportive experiences for all youth. Join us to build your confidence, improve collaboration, and create safer, more inclusive OST environments for all young people!

January 29, 2026

1pm-2pm CST

VIRTUAL

Find registration link here.

Supporting Anxious Students -

Scanlan Center for School Mental Health, University of Iowa

In this webinar participants will be provided an overview of anxiety disorders and common symptoms, as well as strategies for supporting anxious students at home and school. This webinar will also offer an introduction to Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE), an empirically-validated treatment for anxiety and OCD.

February 9, 2026

4pm-6pm CST

VIRTUAL

Find registration link here.

January 27 | 1:00 PM CST

Entries due February 27, 2026

Webinar: The Mott Million Dollar Challenge: Where Big Ideas Win Big

Your students have big, bold ideas — let’s give them a million-dollar stage. Join the 50 State Afterschool Network for a webinar on the Mott Million Dollar Challenge, a national pitch competition for K–12 youth where kids and teens dream up solutions, tackle real-world problems, and compete for their share of $1 million in prizes. Learn how it works, how to get students involved, and how to use ready-to-go resources.

Register: https://collaborativecommunications.zoom.us/meeting/register/15MppbU6Tzms-XctNfHuRQ