Reasons to Get Your Child Involved in Y Afterschool Programming As another summer winds down and a new school year is on the horizon, the Greater Scranton YMCA wants to remind parents and caregivers that the Y’s afterschool program is a place where children can remain active and engaged during their time out of school – a critical time for all school-age children. Below, we’ve listed five reasons your child should get involved with Y afterschool programming once school starts! Physical Activity The Y’s afterschool program combines learning with play. Each day, we provide physical activity which is vital to the overall health and wellbeing of every child in our program. Some physical activities include pool time, outdoor play, gym time and more. Healthy Eating Habits Teaching children the importance of nutrition and healthy eating is key to their success – both in and out of school. The Y’s afterschool program ensures that kids in our community are provided with healthy afterschool snacks when they are in our care and are taught healthy eating habits Academics, Arts & STEMThe Y’s afterschool program helps fill gaps in schools and communities where some academic and recreational activities may be limited. Kids can improve their study habits and reading skills; gain exposure to the arts; find a love for STEM activities and much more. Character Building Kids in our afterschool program at the Y demonstrate improvement in the values, skills, attitudes and behaviors needed for success in school and in life. Kids and teens can achieve, feel a sense of belonging and explore new interests. Check out some of our social and teen programs here. Safety Standards It is vital that children have a safe, enriching environment for learning, both in and out of school. The Greater Scranton YMCA’s afterschool program upholds the highest level of safety standards. For more information about the Greater Scranton YMCA’s Afterschool Program, contact Kevin Mellow, Afterschool and Summer Day Camp Director, at kmellow@gsymca.org.
Johnson College Innovation and Creation Stem Program Scranton Intermediate and NativityMiguel School of Scranton students from Johnson College’s Innovation and Creation STEM afterschool programming joined a national celebration of afterschool programs called Lights On Afterschool on October 20, 2022. The sixth through eighth-grade students showed their support of the National Afterschool Alliance’s Lights On Afterschool event by participating in challenges that used littleBits electrical circuits to illuminate their projects. The first set of students used the littleBits to demonstrate Morse Code through lights. The second set of students participated in an architectural design and drafting challenge using Legos and littlBits circuitry to create structures that incorporated a lighting component. The projects encouraged them to communicate with each other while expanding their knowledge in both STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and history. Through Johnson College’s Innovation and Creation STEM program, students are exposed to careers and fields they might not have previously known about. They are given the opportunity to engage in STEM-related learning in a way that promotes innovation, creation, problem-solving, and many other essential skills. Students complete projects using a variety of modern robotic, electronic, and engineering equipment that is provided to them by the College. Additionally, students learn about the steps they can take to expand their STEM education, including Johnson College’s Dual Enrollment and Industry Fast Track programs. Through these programs, students are eligible to earn college credits while they are attending high school. To learn more about Johnson College’s Innovation and Creation STEM programming, contact Tim Frank at (570) 702-8963 or tfrank@johnson.edu.
