2022 StayConnected Webinar Recordings

GetConnected Afterschool Conference Details

It is just a few weeks away! Join this webinar to learn details about the February 25th GetConnected Afterschool Conference in Omaha. Exciting components include a free audiobook and book study resources, in-person and streamed workshops, Kit Workshops, 25 Walk N Talk Exhibits, and more!

Saundra Frerichs, Science Education Specialist Nebraska 4-H Youth Development, sfrerichs3@unl.edu
Jeff Cole, Beyond School Bells, jcole@nebraskachildren.org
Jan Handa, 21st CCLC Afterschool Program, jan.handa@nebraska.gov
Kim Larson, 21st CCLC Afterschool Program, kim.larson@nebraska.gov

GetConnected Afterschool Conference Details – Kit Workshops

The upcoming GetConnected Afterschool Conference will be held on February 25^th at the CHI Health Center in Omaha. Join this week’s StayConnected webinar to hear about the Kit Workshops available to in-person attendees. Every person who participates in a Kit Workshop will receive training and materials needed to implement a unique club with students in their afterschool or summer program. This week’s StayConnected webinar will feature Kit Workshop presenters who will preview content as well as the kit materials received.

Jessie Coffey, Nebraska Department of Education
Michael Eskelson, Nebraska 4-H
Jack Hilgert, Nebraska Forest Service
Monica Macoubrie, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Tracy Pracheil, Nebraska 4-H
Amber Schiltz, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

Best Summer Ever grants

Dakota Staggs and Jeff Cole, from Beyond School Bells (BSB), will talk about Best Summer Ever!, a statewide summer learning grant BSB is facilitating as part of the Nebraska ELO Innovation Network.

Jeff Cole, Beyond School Bells
Dakota Staggs, Beyond School Bells

Oceans of Possibilities, 4-H Reading Connections
Children are naturally curious about nature and science.  Discover how you can foster an appreciation of STEM, 4-H, the oceans, and water conservation through engaging activities for early childhood and school-aged children.  These resources are perfect for youth development and early childhood professionals, libraries, afterschool clubs, summer camps, and parents.

Jackie Steffen, Early Childhood Nebraska Extension Educator
Jennifer Hansen, 4-H Youth Development Nebraska Extension Educator

May 5, 2022 – Supporting Health and Wellbeing (recording)
Session PowerPoint
Session (pdf)
Afterschool program personnel play a vital role in promoting mental health and well-being and identifying and responding to emerging anxiety and stress in children and adolescents. However, individuals in the education sector have often times not received the education, training, and/or ongoing support needed to respond in the afterschool setting. Learn about how the afterschool setting can assist with providing a safe and welcoming space, supportive of fostering social-emotional competencies. Sign up for this session to receive a kit of supplies to create your OWN calming corner in your afterschool program.

Jessie Coffey, The Whole Child, Nebraska Department of Education

May 19, 2022 – Youth Entrepreneur Marketplace

Learn all about the Youth Entrepreneur Marketplace that will be part of the GetConnected Afterschool conference on September 16, 2022. Get free resources you can use to bring entrepreneurship into your afterschool program. Be prepared to help the youth in your program be entrepreneurs.

Saundra Wever Frerichs, Science Education Specialist, Nebraska 4-H, sfrerichs3@unl.edu

Resources for your program from Nebraska Extension:
Food, Nutrition & Health https://food.unl.edu/
Early Childhood https://child.unl.edu/
Rural Prosperity Nebraska https://ruralprosperityne.unl.edu/
Nebraska 4-H Entrepreneurship Resources https://4h.unl.edu/priorities/entrepreneurship
TEC box curriculum https://marketplace.unl.edu/ne4h/curriculum/eship/tec-box-educational-kit.html
Extension Directory https://epd.unl.edu/

June 2, 2022 – Farm to Summer and Afterschool: Connecting to Gardens and Hands-On Learning

What happens to farm to school when school is out of session? Join us and learn about opportunities for students to engage in local foods and experiential education during Afterschool time and summer. Sarah Smith, NDE Farm to School Specialist, will describe expansion of Nebraska programs to support local foods education outside of the classroom. Kayte Partch, NDE Director of Child Nutrition Programs, will share tips for connecting students to free, nutritious summer meal programs across Nebraska. And Sarah Lane, Program Director at KidsGardening, will share exciting nature-based education lessons and activities. She’ll also share tips for accessing grants and funding garden development, and provide exciting information about how Afterschool program staff and garden educators can connect with each other in a national online community.

Kayte Partch, NDE Director of Child Nutrition Programs
Sarah Smith, NDE Farm to School Specialist
Sarah Lane, KidsGardening Program Director

Kids Gardening, Sarah Lane Presentation

Farm to Summer and Afterschool Handout

Nebraska Summer Meals Update
Questions or comments? Reach out to our new NS Program Specialist, Taylor Schorsch (taylor.schorsch@nebraska.gov), or Kayte Partch, NSLP and SFSP Director (kayte.partch@nebraska.gov).

August 4, 2022 – Connecting to GetConnected

Links for the 2022 GetConnected Conference on September 16 in Kearney NE.
Conference web site https://www.education.ne.gov/21stcclc/nebraska-afterschool-conference/
Registration link https://negetconnected.com/
Group registration form https://www.education.ne.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Group-Registration-Instructions-Interactive.pdf

We’ll be previewing the GetConnected Conference which will be held on September 16th in Kearney.  Learn about the schedule, session presenters, topics, and other exciting activities that we have planned for our time together.  Registration will open Mon, Aug 1st, so don’t delay!

• Saundra Wever Frerichs, Science Education Specialist, Nebraska 4-H, sfrerichs3@unl.edu
• Brian Welch, NDE 21^st Century Community Learning Centers, brian.welch@nebraska.gov

August 18, 2022 – Why are the Lights On After School?

Join us Thursday, August 18, 2022 at noon to find out why the lights are on after school! This engaging session will highlight the many resources found at the After School Alliance’s website: http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/loa.cfm . These resources can help you plan and execute a successful fall celebration. Beyond School Bells’ Sandy Day will facilitate the discussion between two after school directors – Deb Sawyer from O’Neil and Patricia Stewart from Lexington, NE. Learn how each has created and executed Lights On After School celebrations that truly reflect the great work done for youth in Nebraska. Whether your community is small, large, or somewhere in between, there will be a lot showcased in the session.

• Sandy Day, Director of Content and Delivery Beyond School Bells sday@nebraskachildren.org
• Deb Sawyer, Developing Eagles Director O’Neill Nebraska debsawyer@oneillschools.org
• Patricia Stewart, Director Lexington Academy Program patricia.stewart@lexschools.org

September 1, 2022 – Youth for Youth (Y4Y) Overview

You for Youth (Y4Y) is the online professional learning and technical assistance portal for 21st CCLC programs funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Join this session to learn how to utilize Y4Y resources for program planning, implementation and assessment as well as staff training and development.

David McConnell, Center for Afterschool and Expanded Learning, dmcconnell@foundationsinc.org

October 6, 2022 – Marathon Kids-The Perfect Fit for Youth Activity and Family Engagement

Nebraska Extension Marathon Kids is an evidenced-based physical activity program that encourages youth to get and stay active by introducing them to the joys of running. Nebraska Extension has taken a unique approach to program implementation by providing community coach training sessions that empowers motivated adults to begin their own programs. We guide each coach step-by-step in creating, promoting, and recruiting for their run clubs. Coaches can come from inside or outside the school, but no matter their day job, we will provide all of the technical support needed to “run” a fantastic club.

Beth Nacke, Nebraska Extension, Registered Dietitian, Extension Educator, bnacke2@unl.edu
Mariah Newmyer, Nebraska Extension, Extension Educator

October 20, 2022 – School Gardens with Bloom Box
Bloom Box, a program of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, has scholarships available for schools to receive a 100 sq ft native plant garden + Project Learning Tree (PLT) training for 2 staff members at no cost to the school. Sarah will give an overview of what is included in a Bloom Box garden and what is required of participating schools. Jack Hilgert will give an overview of PLT and how the curriculum training works.
What are Project Learning Tree and Project WET?
Growing Gardeners with Bloom Box

• Sarah Buckley, Nebraska Forest Service & Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, Sustainable Landscape Specialist for the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, sarah.buckly@unl.edu
• Jack Hilgert, Nebraska Forest Service, Conservation Education Coordinator for the Nebraska Forest Service, jack.hilgert@unl.edu

November 3, 2022 – STEM programming for your afterschool program

Computational thinking builds problem-solving strategies to help youth prepare for their future. Computational thinking can be a game changer for young people when they learn problem solving skills with computers. Dr. Frerichs will share resources you can use right away to bring more computational thinking into your afterschool program.

Dr. Saundra Wever Frerichs, Science Education Specialist with Nebraska 4-H, sfrerichs3@unl.edu,
402-472-2718

November 17, 2022 – Beyond School Bells Incentivized Club Grants

Beyond School Bells Incentivized Club Grants
In this session, Beyond School Bells will provide an overview of a variety of hands-on, engaging, and innovative club package grants on offer for Nebraska afterschool programs.

• Environmental – Conservation Action Program (E-CAP) PDF  PowerPoint
• PowerPoint – Beyond School Bells Mini-Grant and Incentivized Club Offerings
  January 20 – due date for spring family engagement grants

Alison O’Toole, Nebraska Children – Beyond School Bells, Program Director
Dakota Staggs, Nebraska Children – Beyond School Bells, Program Coordinator

Beyond School Bells Incentivized Clubs
Beyond School Bells is incentivizing Nebraska afterschool programs to use the free, high-quality afterschool curriculum by providing funding for club facilitators, supplies, and evaluation. If you are interested, please email Dakota Staggs at dstaggs@nebraskachildren.org

STEM Family Engagement Grants
Beyond School Bell’s family engagement mini-grants are built around a STEM-based family engagement planning tool and workbook that wrap evidence-based best practices around STEM programming and outreach.

Youth Videography
Does your program have any aspiring YouTubers, TikTok Wizards, or video Geeks? Partner with Beyond School Bells and The Bay/Rabble Mill to provide them with a Youth Videography Club to unleash student voices to tell the story of your afterschool program!

December 1, 2022 – Mysteries, Munchies, and Messes with Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom

Join Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom to explore mysteries, munchies, and messes. Participants will receive FREE hands-on educator guides to bring interactive and fun resources into their afterschool and summer programs!
Mysteries, Munchies, & Messes – PowerPoint

Brooke Tempel, Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation, Education Specialist, brooket@nefb.org

December 15, 2022 – Advancing Health Equity in Out-of-School Time

Out-of-school time (OST) programs play a critical role in the system of support established to ensure that all youth have a place where they feel safe, are surrounded by supportive mentors, have access to nutritious foods, and can be active. During this Stay Connected webinar event, you’ll learn about existing OST resources that can support you with your efforts to provide comprehensive OST programming to meet the social emotional needs of youth as well as improve their health and wellbeing.

Kate Goddard, Education Development Center, Inc., kgoddard@edc.org