Weekly Media Roundup: May 5, 2021

Operation Go: After school program teaches kids new skills with positive affirmations, Rochesterfirst.com (New York)

The Operation Go afterschool program in Rochester, New York seeks to educate students about a variety of trades at a young age. “[These are] things that kids are interested in, but don’t have a platform to create,” Founder Justin Ortiz told Rochesterfirst.com. Students receive hands-on training in app development, video production, graphic design and other valuable skills. At the conclusion of the program, students graduate with a tangible product.

'Kids Need To Be Connected': Grants Help Fund Vt. Summer Programs, But Staff Needed, Vermont Public Radio (Vermont)

The loss of social interaction and engagement during the pandemic has led to a rise in depression and anxiety among students of all ages. With additional funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, Vermont Afterschool is overseeing the state’s efforts to enhance and expand summer programming to support students. “We’re looking forward to seeing a variety of applications for serving children from kindergarten through high school, and really trying to do something different and something more this year with these dollars,” Vermont Afterschool Executive Director Holly Morehouse told Vermont Public Radio. One of the greatest challenges is finding staffing from overburdened educators. “We’re hearing from programs all over the state that they’re still hiring [for summer programming], that there is a need for staff and that in some areas, they have concern - will they be able to find enough people,” Morehouse said.

City Observes Arbor Day with Return of Tree Planting Ceremony, Turlock Journal (CA)

To celebrate Arbor Day, students in the Kids Camp afterschool program in Turlock, California planted crepe myrtle trees alongside Turlock Mayor Amy Bublak. Students learned about the history of Arbor Day and proper tree care from the Parks Department before digging holes, breaking up root balls, and planting and staking the trees. “That’s the good thing about trees, they go on for generations and generations,” Parks Department official Art Padilla told the Turlock Journal. “But they’re only going to get like that if you put them in the right location and take care of them the right way.”

A Shining Beacon of Light: The Boys & Girls Club of Marion County, Marion Star (OH)

When high school student Arie Sexton started attending the afterschool program at the Boys & Girls Club of Marion County, she connected with mentors who supported her emotionally and challenged her to take on leadership responsibilities, which increased her confidence. Sexton even gave her State Representative a tour of the program. “Every day, clubs provide children and teens a safe space to go during out-of-school hours — giving them access to opportunities and experiences that can change and save their lives. This work has been made even more important during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Sexton wrote in a recent guest column for the Marion Star.