News

This hot weather has me reminiscing about summer as a kid. I have fond memories of sunny days growing up in a small town. The town didn't have a lot of things that bigger cities have, but it did have an outdoor Olympic-size swimming pool.

Crowdfunding has become a popular way for individuals to raise money for many good causes. Sometimes crowdfunding is used for relatively small amounts of money, but that's not always the case. Some crowdfunding projects raise tens of thousands of dollars.

Last May, NAA and SSI Out-of-School teamed up to offer a fun giveaway for three $500 vouchers for afterschool program supplies! Three lucky winners were randomly selected:

What childhood memories contribute to your health and wellness today? Who needs gratitude for your afterschool experience?

Food is the one afterschool and summer learning program component necessary for survival. Food security is something we deal with daily.

The National AfterSchool Association (NAA) recently elected and appointed new members to its Board of Directors. The strong slate of candidates was impressive, which was reflected by the large number of members who voted in this election—it was an all-time high for our association! Thank you to our members who took the time to vote.

Afterschool professionals know the importance of one caring adult in the life of a child. Research and anecdotes show that knowledgeable and skilled staff are crucial to quality afterschool programs that result in positive youth outcomes; relationships between adults and youth are key.

Out-of-school time (OST) programs serve more than 10 million young people per year, which provides a significant opportunity to promote healthy eating and physical activity. Until fairly recently, however, the field has lacked a comprehensive set of operationalizable standards for healthy eating and physical activity (Childhood Obesity 2012).

The ability to read, write, and think critically are vital skills—important at every stage of a person's life to succeed academically, professionally, and beyond.

Over time, assumptions develop that paralyze thinking, slow growth, and stymie progress in any profession. Assumptions influence how afterschool professionals respond to what they do and how they do it. Because of that, when asked the more important question of why an afterschool programs exists, many people stumble and mumble a response. Those who lead best clearly understand their organization's mission and can succinctly explain WHY they (and the organization) do WHAT they do and HOW they do it. But all too often, we are first asked WHAT we do? We need to learn to reorder the questions, starting with WHY.