New Hampshire Afterschool Network

10/02/2026

💡 32 PROGRAMS ARE IN!

New Hampshire already has 32 programs registered for Lights On Afterschool 2026 — but we're not stopping there.

🎯 OUR GOAL: 100 NH PROGRAMS

That means we need 68 more programs to help us light up New Hampshire on October 22!

Your celebration does NOT have to be huge. 💛

🏀 Host a family activity
🎨 Display youth artwork
🔬 Show off a STEM project
🍕 Invite families for pizza
📸 Take a group photo
💡 Or simply turn the lights on and tell your community why afterschool matters!

Big or small, every light counts.

Already registered? Tag another NH afterschool program and

10/01/2026

Don't miss this opportunity!

🌲 BRING LEARNING OUTSIDE IN 2027!

New Hampshire Environmental Educators (NHEE) is now accepting applications for the NHEE’d to Get Outside Grant, which provides funding to help make outdoor experiential learning opportunities possible across New Hampshire.

Who can apply?
New Hampshire schools and nonprofit organizations

How much funding is available?
Applicants may request up to $2,000 to support outdoor learning opportunities, including transportation, program fees, materials, and other costs that help get learners outside and engaged in meaningful experiences.

Application deadline: November 20, 2026

🌿 Learn more and apply:

Grant Application: We NHEEd to Get Outside! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfTuSY9CFjmimKaOaUn_NQIzU473gzfXiefJNH05v_rWtNbqQ/viewform

Please share widely with anyone who could use a little help bringing learning outside in 2027!

We are New Hampshire Environmental Educators (NHEE). Our mission is to advocate for high quality environmental education in New Hampshire, and to provide a forum for networking and professional development for environmental education. NHEE helps lead the implementation of the New Hampshire Environme...

10/01/2026

10/01/2026

Meta has agreed to pay over $17 billion dollars to 47 states to settle claims that they misled the public about their platform's safety, and exposed young people to serious mental health harms.

That means that right now, all across the country, states are making key decisions about what to do with these record-breaking funds.

The settlement names afterschool programs as one of the recommended uses to repair harm, and we obviously agree. Afterschool and summer programs offer a perfect antidote to social media harms, providing kids with a safe place to connect, explore, and grow.

As a founding member of the Fund IRL coalition, we’re working to ensure that these funds are going toward on-the-ground programs and organizations that support the mental health, safety, well-being, and positive development of young people. We urge state officials to seize this opportunity to make a big investment in the health and safety of millions of young people.

Read more about the opportunity: https://bit.ly/46Pfejg
And more about Fund IRL: https://bit.ly/4xL47mu

10/01/2026

Afterschool programs play a vital role in supporting both physical and mental health—and it’s never been more important to showcase that.

A historic settlement between Meta over social media's harm to youth mental health will direct up to $17.1 billion to 47 states over the next decade. And the settlement names afterschool programs as one of the recommended uses of those funds.

Afterschool programs help young people stay active, build life skills, and spend less time on screens. It’s exactly the kind of support the settlement is meant to fund, and our national Lights On Afterschool day of action is the perfect time to showcase that.

On October 22, programs around the country will be hosting events celebrating the impact of afterschool programs. We've got five great ideas for how your program can join in on the fun, while incorporating health and wellness:

1. Do a mindfulness activity! Set up a station for a short guided meditation or breathing exercise for students, families, or staff.

2. Create a craft station! Knitting and crocheting help young people unwind, build focus, and experience a sense of accomplishment.

3. Put on a healthy cooking demo! Partner with a local chef or nutritionist or ask a staff member to demonstrate how to prepare a simple, nutritious snack.

Read ideas 4-5 here: https://bit.ly/4rI9NfK
Or check out our full event database: https://bit.ly/4yiu11R
And then register your event here: https://bit.ly/3VbMyhW

10/01/2026

Girl Scouts is back at Girls Inc.!

10/01/2026

Helping children lead healthy lives in a digital world. Research, evidence-based recommendations, public education, and nonpartisan policy advocacy—it’s how we create a world of good for children in the digital age.

09/28/2026

💡 LOOK AT THOSE LIGHTS! 💡

Our Lights On Afterschool board is getting brighter! Each yellow bulb represents a New Hampshire afterschool program joining us to celebrate Lights On Afterschool on October 22 — and we’re not done yet.

Every bulb is more than a name on this board. It represents kids having a safe place to go after school, families having support while they work, and communities investing in opportunities for young people.

✨ 31 bulbs are officially lit!
💡 69 more to go to reach our goal of 100!

Is your program on the board yet? There’s still plenty of room to light another bulb. 👀

Register your Lights On Afterschool celebration and help us light up New Hampshire! https://loa.afterschoolalliance.org/accounts/signup/