Now Available: Summer Activity Guide
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Are you a youth development or summer learning program looking for fun and engaging activities designed to accommodate COVID-19 this summer? Look no further! The new Summer Activity Guide offers 150 activities and challenges organized by four different age groups and includes guidance on how to support positive youth development.
We heard your concerns about maintaining engagement throughout an atypical summer, and understand your anxieties as you navigate these uncharted territories. The Guide uses a mix of approaches to serve youth this summer, including in-person, virtually, or through take-home activities!
Over the next 10 weeks, activity batches will be provided every two weeks along with supplemental materials throughout to support providers and families in preparation and implementation.
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month and has been observed in the USA since 1949. The purpose of Mental Health Awareness Month is to raise awareness and educate the public about mental illnesses and strategies for attaining mental health and wellness.
The Iowa Healthiest State Initiative has shared a
Mental Health Checklist
to help you t
ake care of your own mental health with suggested daily, weekly and monthly activities.
If you’re looking for ways to discuss mental health with your students, the
Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health
has created many
(free!)
activities that can be adapted for virtually any age group to help you broach the topic with young people.
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Live, Virtual Tutoring with Sylvan Learning Center
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Several summer programs have been cancelled or delayed due to COVID-19. To keep youth learning this summer, Sylvan Learning Center is offering live, virtual learning classes for 2nd-8th grade math or reading for a discounted price of $300 (includes 15 one-hour lessons). Classes are capped at 8 students for each grade level to keep class sizes small. Click
here
to learn more and share their flyer with families.
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COVID-19 Resources for the Afterschool Field
Did you know that the Iowa Afterschool Alliance has been compiling COVID-19 guidance for afterschool programs and virtual learning opportunities for youth? All of this information is released in a biweekly bulletin and saved on our website.
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Approachable Adults Training by EyesOpenIowa
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S
ometimes kids say the darndest things and ask the darndest questions. When they do, it's important for parents and caregivers to be approachable and able to give good information. This training from our partners at EyesOpenIowa is for parents and caregivers who are hoping to feel a little more confident about talking to their children about sexuality. Approachable Adults will examine where children are getting their information about sexuality, including media and peers. They will also discuss what kinds of questions children tend to ask about sexuality, strategies for answering those questions, a helpful acronym for what topics are important to talk to your kids about, and resources you and your kids will love! To learn more and register for this virtual training click
here
.
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Grant Opportunities
NEA Foundation’s Rapid Response Funding
The purpose of the NEA Foundation’s Rapid Response Funding is to support educator-led initiatives to adapt to the unique circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic during the summer months of 2020, for instance:
- Addressing the social and emotional needs of educators, students, and students’ families;
- Learning new pedagogy and/or adapting curricula to support distance/virtual learning and instruction;
- Addressing students’ summer learning loss;
- Preparing for the transition back to traditional schooling or adapting to continued virtual schooling;
- Supporting students’ parents’/caregivers’ efforts to support their children’s learning (via virtual class instruction or summer enrichment activities); and
- Meeting the nutritional needs of students who rely on school meals and school-based summer feeding programs.
These grants will be awarded for amounts of $1,500 to $5,000. Applicants must be NEA members. The final deadline for applications is June 11, 2020. Click
here
to learn more.
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Hunter's Fund
Hunter’s Fund invests in young people (16-25) who have a project, idea, or passion that needs funding. Preference is given to applications in the areas of music, performing arts, computer science and entrepreneurship. Grant awards can range from $500 to $5,000. All grantees are partnered with an appropriate mentor to encourage their progress and growth as they move towards their goals. Applications are reviewed and accepted twice a year with application deadlines of June 15 and November 15. Click
here
to learn more.
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Honda Foundation Grants
The American Honda Foundation engages in grant making that supports youth education with a specific focus on the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects in addition to the environment. Nonprofits and schools are eligible to apply.
Funding ranges from $30,000-$100,000. Deadline to apply for "new organizations" is August 1, 2020. Click
here
to learn more.
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Professional Development Opportunities
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Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant Program - Summer Symposium
The U.S. Department of Education and the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Grant Program are hosting the annual Summer Symposium virtually on July 14-16, 2020. There is no conference fee to attend. Click
here
to learn more about the agenda and register.
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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
.
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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.
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Afterschool Alliance Webinars
The Afterschool Alliance offers webinars on a wide range of topics, from policy and the new Every Student Succeeds Act, to STEM and Social-Emotional Learning. Find out more on their
webinars website
.
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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
.
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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
.
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Resources for STEM Programming
The Center for the Advancement of Informal Science Education (CAISE) provides background information that is useful for the development of STEM programming. Find out more on their
website
.
The Afterschool Tech Toolkit aims to empower afterschool professionals and educators with strategies and training so they can provide students with access to technology outside of classroom hours. It includes training modules on getting started, training staff, accessing technology and devices, and more. Take a look at the toolkit
here
.
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BOOST Conference & Online Professional Development
October 26 - October 29, 2020; Palms Springs, CA
Join the largest, most recognized and comprehensive global convening for after school, expanded learning, and out-of-school time professionals. Set in a retreat-like atmosphere, this annual, extraordinary event will rejuvenate your passion, boost your direction for quality programming and provide tools and resources that will inspire you to create change.
BOOST also provides free online professional development. Click
here
to check it out.
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