Weekly Media Roundup - August 3, 2011

The Play's the Thing at Technical Schools (Courier Post, New Jersey)
A 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) grant gave students at Camden County Technical Schools the opportunity to participate in a free summer Performing Arts Academy.  “Without the grant, the summer program would cost families about $1,200 per student,” the Courier Post reports.  The grant also funded a summer leadership program, and allows students to take courses at a local college during the school year.  Learn more about the Afterschool for America’s Children Act (S. 1370), legislation that reauthorizes the 21st CCLC initiative and builds on past afterschool and summer learning program success.  Ask your Senators to co-sponsor the bill here.

Fundraising Efforts Help Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County (Palladium-Item, Indiana)
The jcpenney afterschool fund is sponsoring the “Pennies From Heaven” challenge to raise funds for afterschool programs across the country.  Customers can round up their in-store purchases to the nearest dollar to have the difference donated to local programs.  Participants can also collect “virtual” pennies online, which jcpenney will match with up to a $1 million donation.  The campaign runs through Aug. 27.

21st-Century Conference Focuses on Community Partnerships (Education Week’s Beyond School Blog)
Thousands of afterschool advocates last week attend the 21st Century Community Learning Center's Summer Institute.  This year’s conference focused on building community partnerships, and included more than 100 breakout sessions on a wide range of topics.

Trapeze? LEGO building? 6 Unusual After-School Classes (MSNBC.com)
Read about six nontraditional afterschool programs around the country, like wilderness training and trapeze classes.