Afterschool Professionals have a lot going on, and we want to help! One way we know how to help is by coming up with activities. And so, welcome to The Launchpad, a quarterly curation of curriculum perfect for afterschool programs. These activities will vary by content areas, lengths, difficulties, and ages. If find out when… Read more »
Blog
Head to Heart #5: Positive Door Greetings
What if I told you that a 5 second interaction with a child can boost the morale of your students and help that child be more successful in your program? What if those 5 seconds were as easy as giving a friendly greeting to every child as they walked through the door to your program?… Read more »
The Launchpad #1
Afterschool Professionals have a lot going on, and we want to help! One way we know how to help is by coming up with activities. And so, welcome to The Launchpad, a quarterly curation of curriculum perfect for afterschool programs. These activities will vary by content areas, lengths, difficulties, and ages. If find out when… Read more »
Head to Heart #4
The summer sun is shining in Vermont and, in this issue of Head to Heart, I want to highlight an afterschool program that shines in its commitment to SEL, teamwork, and fun. Here is Jane Youngbaer, a champion of Vermont’s Destination Imagination program.. Did you know that Vermont has a program that gives kids of… Read more »
A Win for Afterschool and Summer Programs for 2025-2026 School Year. Threats to the Field Remain.
We are tremendously relieved—for youth, their families, and the professionals who work with them—to hear that the Administration will release the FY25 afterschool and summer learning program funds it had withheld, which were congressionally approved and due to states and D.C. on July 1. Make no mistake, this outcome was a direct result of a… Read more »
This is Unacceptable: Vermont Afterschool Statement on Afterschool Federal Funding Freeze
Recent news of the Trump Administration withholding $6.8 billion in FY25 federal education funding, including $1.4 billion intended for before- and afterschool programs through Title IV Part B, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), is unacceptable. Communities across Vermont know that afterschool and summer programs are providing invaluable learning opportunities for young people… Read more »
Head to Heart #3
With warmer weather on the way, some youth may be engaging in riskier behaviors with their peers. As many of us know, afterschool and summer programs are a great strategy to support upstream, primary prevention for substance use and support youth in navigating tricky social situations. When I saw this article in Education Week, I… Read more »
Head to Heart #2
I came across this article and this article in Education Week and thought about them for a while—so much of what I hear from program staff is they are seeing really high levels of behavioral needs from multiple students, all at the same time. This article affirms what many of us had suspected for a… Read more »
A Statement from Vermont Afterschool
These past couple of weeks have been overwhelming as executive orders have created uncertainty and caused fear for vulnerable populations. We know many of you, like us, are concerned about what’s happening now, and what may come over the next many months and years. We have struggled to determine the implications of the executive orders,… Read more »
Head to Heart #1
Acknowledging & Validating Quick Training (adapted from The Flourish Lab curriculum) When children are experiencing large feelings, one of the most supportive and effective strategies to help them return to baseline is to acknowledge and validate their emotions. Acknowledgement includes “naming the feeling” and sounds like … What are you feeling? It seems that you… Read more »
