To establish lasting collaborations between Independent School Districts, businesses, and local community based organizations. Learning Center Schools provide challenging and fun academic after-school programs that ensure a safe enviornment while linking local communities to the school campus.

The mission of this organization is to ensure that all children, youth, and families have access to high quality programs, activities, and opportunities during non-school hours. NIOST believes that these experiences are essential to the healthy development of children and youth, who then can become effective and capable members of society. Our work bridges the worlds of research and practice.

The mission of this organization is strengthening individuals and families through community connections service programs and education.

When politicians talk about after-school programs, they typically tout their impact on academic achievement -- but many kids and parents say they're more interested in fun programs that develop hobbies and skills and reinforce values. Low-income and minority parents are considerably more likely to want activities that help their children in school. These same parents say it's hard to find high-quality, convenient and affordable activities. Parents of all backgrounds said the hardest of all is finding opportunities for teenagers, especially during the summer.

The Afterschool Investments project -- supported by the Child Care Bureau -- has developed state profiles of before-school, after-school and summer programs in every state. These and other resources for policymakers, administrators, and program providers are available online.

It started as a one-week experiment, 15 years ago. But today, Project LIFT continues to offer homeless children in New York City an education in the dance, and much more. Connect for Kids intern Diana Strumbos reports.

Schools and other organizations have different strategies for encouraging young people to perform community service. In Denver, Colo., one of the most successful has been a program that rewards service with adventure -- whitewater rafting through the heart of the city itself. Robert Ebisch reports.

If you want to add a mentoring component to your after-school program, the After-School Program Clearinghouse from MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership can give you guidance and tools to get started.

Creativity and independence are great skills that children can develop in the summer when schedules are less hectic. Here is a list of easy, inexpensive, summer crafts a child can do almost entirely on his or her
own.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children has put
together a list of ideas of summer activities for caregivers and children to do together. Most of these activities are free and incorporate fun and learning.