Tips on Finding After School or Summer Learning Programs
for Children and Youth

If you're trying to find out what kinds of after school or summer youth programs exist in or near your community, here's how to start.

Keep in mind that youth development often is part of larger programs at places such as:

• Community centers
• Community learning centers
• Full-service schools
• Museums, and libraries
• Community arts councils
• Youth employment programs
• Settlement houses

Steps to finding after school and summer programs:

1. Ask a teacher or principal at your child's school if there is a school-based youth development program.
   
   
2. If you have access to a computer, use search engines to look for "youth programs name of your community"
   
   
3. Contact community organizations for more information about after school and summer learning opportunities, such as:
   • Boys & Girls Clubs of America, www.bgca.org, Find clubs on their webpage
   • Camp Fire USA, www.campfireusa-mn.org
   • Churches, synagogues and mosques
   • Community Education, Find sites through your school district webpage
   • 4-H Council, http://www.fourh.umn.edu/, Find clubs on their webpage
   • Girls, Inc, www.girlsinc.org
   • Inner City Games, www.inner-citygames.org
   • Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest , http://uppermidwest.ja.org/, Find sites on their webpage
   • Libraries, Find programs through your city or county library webpage
   • Park & Recreation Department, Find programs through your City webpage here
   • Police Athletic Leagues, www.nationalpal.org
   • YMCA : http://www.ymca.net/maps/, Find your site or camp on their main webpage
   • YWCA: http://www.ywca.org/site/pp.asp?c=djISI6PIKpG&b=281394, Find your location association or site on their webpage
   
   
4. Review the Minnesota Minority Education Partnership's (MMEP) Academic Enrichment Guide for information about summer enrichment programs and opportunities http://www.mmep.net/.
   
   
5. Talk to other parents, guardians, and grandparents about what their children and grandchildren do when they're not in school. They might be able to tell you about good programs in the area.
   
   
6. Call your local childcare resource and referral office. They will have a directory of child and youth development programs in your area for children and youth up to age 13. You can find them in the blue, white, and yellow pages of the phone book under childcare, or visit their website: http://www.mnchildcare.org/.