10 last-minute Lights On Afterschool event ideas

As Lights On Afterschool draws nearer (one week and counting!) we hope you’ve already registered your event and started planning for a fun and rewarding celebration of afterschool. But if not—fear not! Here are 10 last-minute event ideas to jumpstart your plans and get started today.

1. Sign the afterschool petition. Take the opportunity to tell policy makers that afterschool programs play an essential role in your community. To collect signatures, either print out the petition or direct attendees to our website.

2. Get artsy with light bulbs. Every year, tens of thousands of our printable light bulbs are decorated across the country. Once finished, they can be strung in hallways and tacked to bulletin boards to keep the Lights On in the weeks to come. Or, you can mail them directly to your local Congressional district office as a bright reminder to your representative that afterschool matters!

3. Wow them with STEM. Many Lights On Afterschool events this year will provide valuable STEM learning experiences by conducting the National Science Experiment, a project of 4-H National Youth Science Day. This year’s experiment, “Motion Commotion,” explores the physics of motion and distracted driving.

4. Build something cool. Our friends at DIY have an abundance of project ideas and video tutorials to help you and your Lights On Afterschool attendees create something together. Whether it’s a rubber band-powered machine or a cardboard contraption, let us know what you create by sharing the project on DIY or by tagging us Twitter using #LightsOnAfterschool.

5. Chow down on healthy food. Encourage kids to eat healthy at your Lights On Afterschool event. Serve a well-rounded meal, host a recipe competition, or take the No Kid Hungry Pledge, a call to action against childhood hunger launched by the No Kid Hungry campaign.

6. Crack open some books. There are endless ways to promote reading and literacy at your Lights On Afterschool event. First Book allows users to launch virtual book drives, which are online fundraisers that return 100 percent of proceeds to registered programs for purchasing new books. Other book-themed event ideas include reading parties or literary celebrations.

7. Go green. No matter the theme of your Lights On Afterschool event, you can promote sustainable and environmentally friendly practices by going paperless, recycling materials, or by mapping your carbon footprint.

8. Ask the kids. The youth who rely on afterschool programs are at the center of Lights On Afterschool, so don’t forget to involve them in your plans. Engage young people in your Lights On Afterschool event by assigning them leadership roles or by allocating time for them to publicly share their thoughts on afterschool. 

9. Get moving! No, this isn’t a command to get started (though by all means, go ahead if you’re already inspired!). You can teach your event participants the importance of physical exercise by hosting a relay race, dance party, or other activity in conjunction with Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play.

10. Be inspired. If you’re still searching for the perfect idea for your Lights On Afterschool event, investigate what others are doing this year or what successful events have done in the past. Remember, Lights On Afterschool events come in all shapes and sizes, so feel free to find a creative and cost-effective answer to your community’s needs. There are endless ways to celebrate afterschool—and no more reasons to delay registering your event today!

Even if you’re not hosting an event of your own, you can still join one million people to celebrate Lights On Afterschool. Find an event to attend in your community, ask Members of Congress to help keep the Lights On Afterschool, or add your voice to the Thunderclap!