March 19, 2025

This is your weekly newsletter featuring program spotlights, innovative resources, and training opportunities for the out-of-school-time industry in Florida. Together, we can ensure all children and youth in Florida have access to affordable, available, high-quality expanded learning opportunities to foster their success in school and beyond.

Youth Voice Week is March 24 to 28, 2025

It's almost Youth Voice Week! From March 24-28, we're amplifying young people's voices as they share the issues that matter most to them. We'd love for you to join us.

Read More

If you have an idea for an afterschool spotlight or would like to be featured, email Holly to help share your story!

Report: Afterschool benefits kids for life

"Organized Afterschool Activities as a Developmental Context for Children and Adolescents," a longitudinal study led by Dr. Deborah Vandell of the University of California, Irvine, finds that participating in afterschool programs benefits kids for life. This study follows a large sample of young people over 26 years to understand how various environments—including families, early education, schools, neighborhoods, and afterschool programs—affect educational, health, and career outcomes. 

Read More

Florida Powere & Light workers at the Boys and Girls Club in Melbourne

On Wednesday Florida Power & Light volunteers were out at the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida in Melbourne, cleaning and replacing flower beds, rocks and plants. The initiative is one of 20 events for FPL's Power to Care week, where hundreds of volunteers will come together March 3-8 to help local nonprofits and communities in more than 10 counties across Florida.

Read More

Florida Ranks 4th in Drowning Deaths: YMCA Offers Free Swim Lessons to Raise Awareness and Save Lives

This week, YMCAs around the Tampa Bay region are working to raise awareness on the issue of drownings and help families protect their children.

Read More

Children's Services Council invests $2.5 million in summer camps and afterschool programs

The bulk of the money will support seven programs that will operate all year, a first for the agency which usually focuses on summer programs.

Read More

Robots and best friends: Six Tallahassee students against the world of LEGO robotics

The local team named, the Gorillabots are one of the two Florida LEGO League teams to advance from state competitions to the world championship.

Read More

Genesis and Genesis Inspiration Foundation Advance STEAM and Arts Education in Florida

As part of an ongoing commitment to supporting youth education, Genesis and Genesis Inspiration Foundation recently invested in STEAM and arts programs in Florida. Genesis Inspiration Foundation donated $50,000 to Breakthrough Miami, a nationally recognized organization dedicated to closing the achievement gap in South Florida. Genesis Gives, the corporate social responsibility initiative of Genesis Motor America, also provided a hands-on STEAM workshop at Rita & Rick Case Club - Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County.

Read More

LEARNING FROM OTHERS: TRIO's Talent Search building robotics into after-school programming

In an effort to introduce computer science and engineering concepts to more students, Educational Talent Search, a TRIO program through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is building VEX Robotics into after-school programming at three Lincoln high schools.

Read More

March Resource of the Month!

In partnership with Verizon™, STEM Next has curated bundles of lessons and activities from Verizon Innovative Learning HQ and created the following STEM Learning Journeys to help you implement these exciting STEM lessons and activities in your afterschool programs. 

Read More

After$chool Funding: StrongNonprofits Toolkit

Get fiscally fit in 2025! The Wallace Foundation’s StrongNonprofits Toolkit is designed to help afterschool nonprofits and youth-serving organizations strengthen their financial management to better fulfill their mission and deliver high-quality services. This toolkit covers six key areas to help you assess and improve your fiscal fitness.

Read More

New brief: A mix of highs and lows for afterschool program providers

Nearly five years later, a majority of afterschool programs are able to serve as many or more students as they served before the pandemic began. Still, most providers are concerned about their programs’ sustainability and staffing capabilities. Overwhelming majorities of afterschool program providers report offering their students academic enrichment, STEM learning opportunities, wellness activities, and time to develop life skills.

Read More

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY: FPL Offers STEM-Based Scholarships for High School Seniors

FPL’s FIRST Robotics Scholarship will award one high school senior a $20,000 scholarship, while the NextEra Energy Scholarship for Students in SECME (Science, Engineering, Communication, Mathematics and Enrichment). The scholarship will grant 10 high school seniors $20,000 each.

Read More 

Celebrate Afterschool Professionals April 21-25, 2025!

Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week (APAW) is a time to recognize, appreciate and advocate for those who work with young people during out-of-school hours. The week is marked by celebrations, public relations, and advocacy efforts encouraging appreciation and support for afterschool professionals who make a profound difference in the lives of youth.

Read More

LAST CALL!

Watch the Recording

Leveraging Youth Sports to Support Positive Youth Development- Afterschool Alliance

Watch the Webinar Recording


Physical activity has the power to unlock transformative benefits for young people-fostering connections with peers and caring mentors, improving mental health and mood, boosting academic performance, and promoting healthy lifestyles. Out-of-school time programs that incorporate sports are uniquely positioned to create supportive environments where youth can grow, thrive, and realize their full potential. See how these programs have successfully integrated sports into their programming and hear strategies for implementing or enhancing sports programming to support positive youth development.

Register Here

Youth Mental Health First Aid Course

Youth Mental Health First Aid is a course for participants 18 years and older who want to learn how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who may be experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. This course is designed for adults who regularly interact with young people, including parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens.

SAVE THE DATE

Afterschool Symposium 2025 - Prime Time Palm Beach County

On May 9, 2025, out-of-school time professionals are invited to attend Prime Time's annual Afterschool Symposium. Prime Time hosts its Afterschool Symposium every year to celebrate the exemplary efforts of our local out-of-school time practitioners while offering professional development workshops that deliver the tools to Empower Young Minds, Engage Communities and Create Lasting Impact so together we can help children and youth succeed by strengthening and expanding quality in the out-of-school time field.

Read More

SAVE THE DATE

CALLS TO ACTION

RESOURCES

GRANTS

Florida After School, Inc. | FLafterschool.com

For more information about Florida After School, Inc. and its many partners, connect with us on social media.

Facebook  Instagram  LinkedIn  X