Ignite Afterschool

06/03/2026

Read more on the barriers families face in new summer findings: aa3pm.co

New data finds that affordability is the top barrier limiting youth participation in summer programs. Nearly 4 in 10 parents cite cost as a factor influencing their ability to enroll.

Read more on the barriers families face in new summer findings: aa3pm.co

06/03/2026

Read the brief: https://stemnext.org/ai-brief

Millions of young people spend their afternoons and summers in afterschool programs. These spaces are trusted, hands-on, and community-rooted. And they're one of the biggest untapped opportunities in our national AI literacy strategy.

Today, STEM Next released Building AI Literacy at Scale: Why Afterschool Matters Now, a new issue brief showing how afterschool and summer programs can deliver real-world AI learning at the scale this moment demands.

The building blocks are in place. What happens next will determine whether AI literacy becomes a shared foundation for opportunity—or another dividing line.

Read the brief: https://stemnext.org/ai-brief

05/29/2026

As the school year ends, summer opens the door to experiences young people don’t always get during the school year. This is when they can try things for the first time, like building robots or coding an app to solve real-world problems.
These moments help young people build confidence, explore what they’re interested in, and start to see where STEM can take them.
That’s why we’re working with partners across the field, including the National Summer Learning Association, to help programs design summer experiences that connect to real career experiences and skills.
We recently shared tools and insights from STEM Next’s Career-Connected Learning Framework at NSLA’s Summer Planning Bootcamp. You can find all the resources we covered in the Summer Bootcamp
Resource Toolkit here: https://bit.ly/4nE3urm

As the school year ends, summer opens the door to experiences young people don’t always get during the school year. This is when they can try things for the first time, like building robots or coding an app to solve real-world problems.

These moments help young people build confidence, explore what they’re interested in, and start to see where STEM can take them.

That’s why we’re working with partners across the field, including the National Summer Learning Association, to help programs design summer experiences that connect to real career experiences and skills.

We recently shared tools and insights from STEM Next’s Career-Connected Learning Framework at NSLA’s Summer Planning Bootcamp. You can find all the resources we covered in the Summer Bootcamp

Resource Toolkit here: https://bit.ly/4nE3urm

05/27/2026

Ready to grow as a leader and make a real impact in your community?
Join the Young Nonprofit Leaders Club (YNLC) and gain hands-on leadership experience, mentorship, professional development, and the skills to lead in youth-serving nonprofits.

Spots are limited! Apply today and take the next step in your leadership journey!
🔗 Register now: igniteafterschool.org/YNLC

05/27/2026

Nationwide, parents of 24.6 million kids want a summer program for their child. However, roughly half of these children are missing out on the positive and engaging experiences summer can hold.
New data paints the full picture of summer program participation in America: aa3pm.co

Nationwide, parents of 24.6 million kids want a summer program for their child. However, roughly half of these children are missing out on the positive and engaging experiences summer can hold.

New data paints the full picture of summer program participation in America: aa3pm.co

05/21/2026

Ready to grow as a leader and make a real impact in your community?
Join the Young Nonprofit Leaders Club and gain hands-on leadership experience, mentorship, professional development, and the skills to lead in youth-serving nonprofits💼

👥 Ages 14–18 | Application Now Open!
💵 $115 stipend per session
⏳ Deadline: June 19, 2026
Spots are limited, apply today and take the next step in your leadership journey!
Registration Link🔗 igniteafterschool.org/YNLC

05/21/2026

Ready to grow as a leader and make a real impact in your community?
Join the Young Nonprofit Leaders Club and gain hands-on leadership experience, mentorship, professional development, and the skills to lead in youth-serving nonprofits💼

👥 Ages 14–18
💵 $115 stipend per session
⏳ Deadline: June 19, 2026
Spots are limited, apply today and take the next step in your leadership journey!
Registration Link🔗 igniteafterschool.org/YNLC

05/21/2026

Applications are open until May 29th! Apply today!
Take your program to the next level with ISAC. Gain access to coaching, research-based practices, and continuous improvement support that helps young people thrive.

Apply Today: https://igniteafterschool.org/i-sac

05/19/2026

Learn More & Apply Now: https://shorturl.at/iDmoQ

Learn More & Apply Now: https://shorturl.at/iDmoQ

This is a paid opportunity for young people ages 16–24 in Minnesota who have experienced housing instability or navigated housing-related support systems.
Participants will work alongside Youthprise and the MN Department of Human Services to help improve how funding and support systems work for young people.

Applications are due May 30, 2026.

05/14/2026

Ignite Afterschool is proud to support afterschool organizations and programs with tools that strengthen storytelling, advocacy, and community impact across the field.

The upcoming America After 3PM state toolkit will provide ready-to-use resources, including graphics, fact sheets, outreach tools, and news releases, to help programs elevate youth voices and share the impact of afterschool in their communities.

📅 Key dates to keep on your radar:
• Friday, May 16 — The America After 3PM state toolkit goes live with state resources
• Tuesday, May 19 at 1 PM ET — America After 3PM release webinar
Together, we continue strengthening support for youth, families, and afterschool programs nationwide. 🌟