Be Educated and Inspired at Next Week's Collaborative Conference Featuring STEM Pre-Session and Keynote from Kids Included Together (KIT)

Join us for the Early Childhood Collaborative Conference September 28-30 at CWC in Riverton. You still have time to get tickets! There is a special STEM pre-session and a conference track designed specifically for afterschool program providers.

You won’t want to miss the keynote. We’re excited to present Torrie Dunlap from an afterschool favorite, Kids Included Together (KIT). In “How to Be an Inclusionista,” she will share her personal story of how she found her passion for inclusion. Weaving in stories from the work of KIT over the years and in different types of settings, she will also offer practical strategies for inclusion. Prepare to feel inspired and informed. Join us for one day or all three to tailor your professional development experience. Learn more!

Showcase Youth Talent During Lights On Afterschool 

Lights On Afterschool, the national celebration of afterschool programs, will be held on Thursday, October 26. It's the perfect opportunity to put the young people in your afterschool program center stage! Hosting a talent showcase is a great way to get students excited about participating in your event and to encourage families to come to the party and see what their children are doing after school. Looking for more fun ways to highlight the amazing talents of your youth? Click here!

There's still plenty of time to sign up (and get ten free posters!). Start now and get weekly planning tips to help you make the most of the time between now and Lights On Afterschool Day. Click here.

Make Language Magic with Mizzen

Abracadabra! Wallah! Hocus Pocus! Alakazam! What if you could wave a wand and make language learning and literacy magical for your youth every day? We’ve got you covered. Without bending a spoon or making a coin vanish, we're sharing four content picks from the Mizzen collection that bolster reading and writing literacy, social-emotional learning, health and wellness, and college and career readiness. All you need is a FREE Mizzen account!

• Animal Interviews: Grades 2-4
• Creating a Tourism Brochure of the Northeastern United States: Grades 3-5
• We’re Sending Mail: Grades 3-5
• Hidden Pictures: Grades 3-5

How OST Can Improve Activity Levels and Eating Habits of Young People

Inactivity and unhealthy eating are significant concerns for our nation’s youth, healthcare system, and economy. Discover how the Healthy Eating and Physical Activity (HEPA) Standards for Out of School Time (OST) can help afterschool programs promote healthier routines for children and youth.

Interested in being more involved with NAA? Join today! Click here.

STEM Spotlight: Celebrate the First Day of Fall with NASA

Celebrate the autumnal equinox on Saturday, September 23 and mark the official start of astronomical fall in the Northern Hemisphere. Learn more about this special spot in Earth's yearly trip around the Sun with these STEM resources:

• Earth’s Seasons and the Sun: A Crossword Puzzle
• NASA Space Place: All About Seasons
• NASA Spotlite Video: What Causes Seasons
• Earth Observations for Kids

Want to subscribe to get this message delivered to your inbox each Thursday? Sign up for the NASA EXPRESS newsletter at www.nasa.gov/stem/express.

Looking to explore STEM in your afterschool or summer program? Find resources and training opportunities in the Million Girls Moonshot September Asset Package! Click here.