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About
the Afterschool Advisor | |
The Afterschool Advisor is a publication of the Iowa Afterschool Alliance for practitioners seeking resources to improve, sustain, and develop their afterschool program. |
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Impact After School Registration Now Open!
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Save the Date for the 3rd Annual
Impact After School Conference
April 23-24, 2015
Ramada Tropics Resort & Conference Center
5000 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, IA 50322
REGISTER ONLINE TODAY!
Guest rooms will be available at the Ramada for $55 per night (April 22 and 23, 2015). To secure this special rate, call the hotel at
515-278-0271 and mention the Impact After School Conference to make your reservation by April 1, 2015.
We are now accepting submissions for exhibitors, as well as exemplary student speakers. Please click on the link, below:
Call for Exhibitors: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/D7DT66X
Due Friday, February 27th at noon!
Do you know of an exemplary student speaker who would be willing to speak at the conference!? Please let us know by sending an e-mail to iblazevic@sppg.com.
Thank you for your interest in the Impact After School Conference! We are looking forward to another amazing conference this year!
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21st Century Community Learning Centers Legislation Alert
|  Bills currently under consideration in the U.S. House and Senate are threatening to eliminate funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21CCLC), the only federal funding source dedicated to afterschool.
Last week, a bipartisan group of 15 senators signed a letter urging the Senate HELP Committee to protect 21CCLC, but the program is still in jeopardy of losing funding.
***THIS IS AN URGENT REQUEST TO INFORM YOUR FEDERAL LEGISLATORS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE FUNDS IN YOUR COMMUNITY***
Senator Joni Ernst (statewide): 1-202-224-3254
Senator Chuck Grassley (statewide): 1-202-224-3744Congressman Rod Blum (1st District, NW Iowa): 1-202-225-2911 Congressman Dave Loebsack (2nd District, SE Iowa): 1-202-225-6576Congressman David Young (3rd District, Central and SW Iowa): 1-202- 225-5476 Congressman Steve King (4th District, NW Iowa): 1-202-225-4426
Learn more and take action to help save 21st Century funding!
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Thank you for joining us at the Capitol!
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Over 100 afterschool program leaders and participants from across the state descended on the Iowa Capitol on Tuesday, February 10th for the Afterschool Snack Legislative Reception.
Students had the opportunity to meet their legislators and tell them about what they do at their afterschool programs and how participating in these programs has helped them be more successful in school and life.
 
It was also a great learning experience for students, who toured the capitol and saw their legislators at work in the Senate and House chambers.  Thank you to the program leaders, students, and advocates who participated, and to the legislators who welcomed us to the capitol for these important discussions about afterschool.
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Central Iowa: We'll be in your communities soon!
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 The IAA is hosting a number of meetings across the state to share this new tool to identify afterschool opportunities exclusively with program providers like you. We would like you to join us to be a leader in this project! We've already completed our outreach events in Eastern and Western Iowa, and will be in Central Iowa starting in March to make sure as many programs as possible can have the opportunity to learn about the directory. Please join us for any of the following events: Fort Dodge Round Table Tuesday, March 10th; 10:00-11:00 a.m. Triton Cafe One Triton Circle, Fort Dodge, IA 50501 Host: Iowa Central Community College Mason City Round Table Thursday, March 12th; 10:00-11:00 a.m. Mason City Family YMCA Board Room 1840 S. Monroe Avenue, Mason City, IA 50401 Ottumwa Round Table Thursday, March 19th Location TBD Des Moines Regional Forum April 23 &24 in conjunction with the Impact After School Conference Ramada Tropics Resort and Conference Center 5000 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, IA 50322 Please visit our website for more details and updates, and contact us if you have any questions about the directory. We hope to see you soon! |
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Quality STEM for Active Learning: Tools, Resources, and Support!
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Please join us for an introduction to the "Dimensions of Success" (DoS) STEM Program Planning tool, a guiding framework for successful STEM programs. Developed by the PEAR Institute (Program in Education, Afterschool and Resiliency at Harvard University), the tool brings a common definition of active learning STEM that can be used to improve the quality of STEM educational experiences.
Learn how to apply this easy-to-use resource, and how it can support STEM active learning for all youth, in this interactive, active learning, water-quality STEM experience, in which you will get to apply the framework of the tool to a STEM activity that you can take home with you!
Space is limited to 50 participants, so register today!
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The STEM Active Learning Community Partners Working Group of the
Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council
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SUNDAY
MARCH 29, 2015
From 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
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BLANK PARK ZOO
7401 SOUTHWEST 9TH STREET
Des Moines, IA 50315
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Closing the 6,000-hour learning gap
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ExpandED Schools, by The After-School Corporation (TASC) released a powerful video last month, highlighting the crucial role that afterschool plays in closing the 6,000-hour learning gap.
According to TASC, "kids born into poverty are less likely to experience the same kinds of enriched learning as their middle-class peers. By 6th grade, this gap can add up to 6,000 hours of lost learning. To put this in perspective, 6,000 hours equals five years in the classroom."
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Free STEM Resources
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Are you looking for STEM curriculum to use in your program? Here are two free options from Engineering is Elementary, developed by the Museum of Science, Boston.
Engineering Adventures was created especially for kids in 3rd-5th grade out-of-school time programs, solving real-life problems through the engineering design process.
Engineering Everywhere is designed for middle school-aged youth in afterschool and camp programs, and empowers youth to tackle real-world engineering problems using the engineering design process.
Take a look and start downloading these activities for free today!
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Professional Development Opportunities
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The Iowa Afterschool Alliance keeps a calendar of opportunities regularly updated on our website. Visit it at http://www.iowaafterschoolalliance.org/resources/.
Community Youth Concepts Spring Training: Ask, Listen, Encourage
March 4, 2015; 2-4 p.m.
Do you communicate with youth in a way that makes them feel supported and heard? This workshop introduces various communication techniques that help you build more supportive, youth-centered relationships. Participants learn how to ask more effective questions and actively listen in conversations.
EyesOpenIowa Webinar: Marching into May: From Prom and Graduation to Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
March 5, 2015; 3-4:30 p.m.
This webinar will help foster ideas for promoting safe and healthy prom and graduation along with campaign ideas for Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month. Get ahead of the game by planning early, learn about valuable partnerships, event ideas and promotion. From big ideas to small, participants will leave with numerous easy tools to use!
Click here to register.
Community Youth Concepts Spring Training: Cooperative Learning
March 13, 2015; 9-11 a.m.
Do the youth in your program have opportunities to work together in groups, teaching and learning from each other? Cooperative learning is a way to nurture youth leadership, build community, and keep things fun. This workshop will equip participants with grouping strategies and ways to think about building cooperative learning into any program offering.
Click here to register.
Blank Park Zoo Educator Workshops
Various dates and locations
Mark your calendar for this school year's educator workshops facilitated by the Blank Park Zoo! The workshops are good for one hour of Drake University or license renewal credit and teachers will be eligible to schedule a free classroom animal program. The following dates and topics are scheduled:
- February 20/21 - New workshop! Patterns in Nature
- April 17/18 - Wonders of Water
More detailed information and registration forms may be found on the zoo's website.
Dimensions of Success STEM Observer Training
February 25-26, 2015
The IAA is seeking individuals across the state who are interested in observing afterschool STEM programs using the DoS tool. To ensure tool validity, observers must participate in a two-day online training via webinar. Thanks to funding from the Noyce Foundation, this training is provided at no charge.
If you are interested in becoming a DoS observer, please contact Indira at iblazevic@sppg.com to register!
2015 Association of Iowa Workforce Partners Annual Conference
March 26-27, 2015; Des Moines, Iowa
Featuring a youth track again this year, afterschool providers serving older youth and youth disconnected from school will be interested in this annual convening of workforce professionals and service providers. Topics include marketing services to older youth, entrepreneurial training, and motivating youth to build skills for future success.
Registration is now open. Register here online. Check http://www.iaworkforcepartners.org/professional-development/ regularly for updated conference information.
Quality STEM for Active Learning: Tools, Resources, and Support
March 29, 2015; 3:30-6:30 p.m. at Blank Park Zoo
Please join us for an introduction to the "Dimensions of Success" (DoS) STEM Program Planning tool, a guiding framework for successful STEM programs. Developed by the PEAR Institute (Program in Education, Afterschool and Resiliency at Harvard University), the tool brings a common definition of active learning STEM that can be used to improve the quality of STEM educational experiences.
Learn how to apply this easy-to-use resource, and how it can support STEM active learning for all youth, in this interactive, active learning, water-quality STEM experience, in which you will get to apply the framework of the tool to a STEM activity that you can take home with you!
4th Annual Iowa Statewide STEM Summit
March 30, 2015; 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center (part of the Iowa Events Center complex), 833 5th Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa. Room Block for March 29 at the Quality Inn near the Iowa Events Center at 929 3rd Street, Des Moines.
2015 Iowa Impact After School Conference
April 23-24, 2015; Des Moines, Iowa
Join other Iowa afterschool professionals for two days of networking, learning, collaborating, and just plain having fun! This year we're moving to a larger venue to accommodate this successful event. Be sure to attend in 2015. You won't want to miss it!
Register online today at http://bit.ly/IMPACT15REG.
2015 BOOST (Best of Out-of-School Time) Conference
April 28 - May 1, 2015; Palm Springs, CA
The BOOST Conference is one of the largest, most recognized, and highly comprehensive professional development opportunities in the country, convening over 2,300 professionals who work with and serve youth in the out-of-school time hours. This all-inclusive conference supports After School Education & Safety (ASES) Programs, 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) Programs and High School ASSETS programs.
Set in a retreat-like atmosphere, this extraordinary event will rejuvenate your passion and boost your direction for quality programming.
Community Youth Concepts Spring Training: Youth Voice and Engagement
May 8, 2015; 9-11:30 a.m.
Research shows that quality programs incorporate youth input at both activity and organizational levels. This workshop emphasizes the importance of offering real choices and meaningful participation to youth and nurturing youth leadership. The workshop focuses on providing meaningful choice and opportunities for youth input at all levels.
You for Youth Online PD for Afterschool Professionals
Ongoing
Short online courses are available for afterschool and summer program staff through You for Youth, a website originally developed by the U.S. Department of Education for 21CCLCs. Courses cover topics like Project-Based Learning, Aligning with the School Day, STEM, and Strengthening Partnerships. Each course takes less than an hour and is available 24/7. All courses are accessible by the public!
New Literacy Content on Y4Y!
You 4 Youth is a free online professional development site that is designed to support 21st CCLC 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.
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Grant Opportunities
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Trees for Kids Grants from the Iowa DNR
Application Deadline: March 2, 2015
"Trees for Kids and Trees for Teens are educational programs that incorporate educational experiences with planting trees. A focus is placed on Iowa's elementary and secondary school students. We hope to educate students about the values of trees, and to encourage tree planting projects at schools or at other public areas in the state of Iowa."
Find out more information here!
McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation
Application Deadline: April 15, 2015
Grants in amounts up to $10,000 per year for a maximum of $30,000 over three years to fund programs that nurture the intellectual, artistic, and creative abilities of children from low-income households. The Foundation considers proposals that foster understanding, deepen students' knowledge, and provide opportunities to expand awareness of the world around them.
Click here for more information and to apply.
Dollar General Youth Literacy Grants
Application Deadline: May 21, 2015
Youth Literacy Grants provide funding to schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations to help students who are below grade level or experiencing difficulty reading.
Grant funding is provided to assist in the following areas:
- Implementing new or expanding existing literacy programs
- Purchasing new technology or equipment to support literacy initiatives
- Purchasing books, materials or software for literacy programs
Click here for more information and to apply!
"From Failure to Promise" K-12 Educators Grant
Application Deadline: June 31, 2015
How would $500 help you move students/youth "from failure to promise" in literacy, math, science, or technology? To support educators, Dr. C Moorer & Associates, Inc., will award several $500 mini-grants in 2015 to community-based organizations, libraries, or schools with creative ideas for adopting and using "From Failure to Promise" in their curriculum.
Find out more and apply here.
Toshiba America Foundation Grants
Toshiba America Foundation believes science and mathematics are exciting fields in which all students can succeed with the proper tools and instruction. Grant applications must be for project based learning, and they do not consider requests solely for computers.
For more information, visit their website.
The Awesome Foundation Grants
"The Awesome Foundation is open to all people and organizations. There are no prerequisites to apply (beyond, of course, being awesome)."
Visit their website to learn more and apply.
Wells Fargo Corporate Giving
Wells Fargo's Corporate Giving focuses on Community Development, Education, Human Services, Arts and Culture, Community Engagement, and Environment.
Brinker International Grants
Brinker International's goal is to Make People Feel Special, and they aim to do so by giving money to projects focused on health, social services, arts and education, and diversity.
Costco Grants
Costco Wholesale specifically focuses on programs supporting children, education and health and human services and is committed to supporting charitable and community activities in the markets where they do business. For information on their donation and grant opportunities, visit their charitable giving website.
Finance Project Resource Center
Click here for the Finance Project's resource center on finding funding for out-of-school time programs.
Child & Adult Care Food Program
The federal "Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act" program provides meals and snacks for school-age youth in afterschool programs. Find out more by visiting the Iowa Department of Education website.
Iowa Grants Guide Online
The Iowa Grants Guide is a web-based directory of Iowa grant-making organizations. Program information only is provided; grant applications are not. Click here for the Iowa Grants Guide
FindYouthInfo.gov Federal Funds Search Engine
Click here to search federal grant opportunities with a tool that lets you filter results by topic, such as Afterschool, Positive Youth Development, or Service Learning.
Spark Grant Finder Tool
This online tool locates national and state-specific grants for physical education, afterschool, early childhood and coordinated school health programs. Search for grants here.
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The Iowa Afterschool Alliance seeks to improve access to high-quality afterschool programs for all Iowa children, youth, and families through policy and partnerships, practice support and outreach and engagement.
To contact the IAA:
Michelle Rich, Iowa Network Coordinator
mrich@sppg.com
515-237-0328
2910 Westown Parkway, Suite 302 West Des Moines, IA 50266
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