Weekly Media Roundup: October 7, 2020

Boys & Girls Club of St. Marys Still Offering After-School Programs, Courier Express (Pennsylvania)

At the Boys and Girls Club of St. Marys afterschool program in St. Marys, Pennsylvania, students choose between a wide range of activities to explore their interests and develop new skills. In addition to homework help, students learn about health and wellness, drama, cooking nutritious foods, creating media, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and more. The program is currently operating in-person with extensive precautions including masks and social distancing. “These kids rely on our staff to provide comfort, food and programs to help them, not only to develop educationally, but grow as a person,” Chief Executive Officer Joe Jacob told the Courier Express. “It truly is a remarkable offering for our rural community. Most clubs are in urban areas so the kids in our community are extremely fortunate to have a Boys and Girls Club and a safe place to go after school.”

Alexandria Rec Centers Provide Childcare Options for Essential Workers, The Zebra (Virginia)

About 250 students in Alexandria, Virginia currently benefit from free, full-day distance learning programs provided by the William Ramsay Recreation Center, YMCA Alexandria, and other afterschool and community programs. These programs have partnered with Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) to provide safe, socially distanced spaces for students to do distance learning while their parents work. Students also have access to tutoring and enrichment through ACPS Link Club afterschool programs. “I like coming here because after online school, we get active and get some fresh air. We get everything we need here,” Anh Nguyen, a fifth grader, told the Zebra.

Hartford After-School Program Helps Kids Chase Their Dreams, NBC Connecticut (Connecticut)

During the pandemic, Dream Camp’s afterschool and summer program in Hartford, Connecticut has continued serving students and their families with live virtual programming and regular meal and activity kit distributions. Through live, interactive instruction on Zoom, students in first through 12th grade complete hands-on STEM activities, develop their artistic abilities, participate in physical fitness classes, get help with math and reading and more.“[My son] said oh, we learned this in camp, how to build a robot. So let’s see if I can make a robot out of my Legos…. Now he’s exploring lots of things. I just think that this camp is great. It has given us a lot of opportunities,” parent Ludy Henderson told NBC Connecticut.

El Monte After-School Program Helps Parents, Kids Cope With Distance Learning, Spectrum News 1 (California)

To support families during the pandemic, El Monte, California Mayor Andre Quintero recently helped launch a free afterschool program called the COVID-19 Youth Learn & Care program. Facilitated by the El Monte Parks and Recreation Department, the program offers outdoor recreation and educational activities ranging from water balloon races to engineering projects. The goal is to support students’ academic and social and emotional growth while supporting families with child care. "It gives parents breathing room so they can take a little bit of a break," Mayor Quintero told Spectrum News 1. "And it gives children the opportunity to be with other children."