With a history of advancing informal learning through technology integration, YouthLearn has recently intensified its research and professional development activities in connection with the growing afterschool field.

Long Beach YMCA Youth Institute, CA

Much more than just a period of time in the day, Afterschool has become a movement -- a unifying interest for educators, parents, and policymakers alike. While community-based organizations have promoted positive youth development for decades, today's afterschool movement works to synthesize academic pursuits with youth development goals. Some programs are re-hashed remedial activities with limited impact. However, the best programs see afterschool as an opportunity to integrate rich content into fun, experiential learning fueled by the imagination and enthusiasm of the young participants.

To support the afterschool movement in providing meaningful programming, YouthLearn has assembled a range of resources and materials specific to the needs of afterschool providers. Below are links to current projects, model programs, and resources within the YouthLearn site that will aid the afterschool practitioner in developing both technology-supported and content-rich curriculum.

In This Section

Our Vision for Afterschool
Spotlight on Afterschool
Partnerships
Links and Reference Materials

The development of this site was supported in part by a grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Additional support was provided by the National Partnership for Quality Afterschool Learning at Southwest Educational Development Laboratory.