Holiday Resource Guide

During the holiday break, it can be difficult to keep your students engaged and learning. YouthQuest will be out of session from Dec. 16 through Jan. 5. However, there are many different things families can do to keep their children learning and growing.

“Keeping your student engaged and active during the break doesn’t have to be a challenge,” says Nefertari Jones, director of Afterschool Education at Flint & Genesee Education & Talent. “We’re fortunate to have several resources available to families in Flint and Genesee County.”

To help students stay engaged, parents might check out:

The Flint Children Museum – The local museum is open to patrons offering fun and engaging exhibitions for young children. The museum also offers video programming for students to stay engaged at home.

Sloan Museum at Courtland Center – Currently located at Courtland Center, the Sloan Museum has rotating exhibitions that keep students learning and engaged. Through the holidays, students can experience “Mission Safari” and learn how animals move in their habitat and try it on for size themselves.

Longway Planetarium – The local planetarium has a variety of programming for students and adults alike. During the holiday break, enjoy “We Are Stars,” “Turtle Odyssey” and “Violent Universe.”

Flint Institute of Arts – The local museum is the second largest fine-arts museum is a great place to take the family for an educational and fun outing. Admission is available at no cost to Genesee County residents.

Mid-Michigan Moms – A local group that provides a user-friendly connection to the community, Mid-Michigan Moms is a collaborative of 35 local moms who create blog posts, resources and guides, build event calendars and more. The group has also created free distanced learning webinars that are available to watch on their website.

Local Bookstores – There are plenty of local bookstores in Flint and Genesee County for children to explore including A Bit of Earth, Totem Books and Comma Books & Social Hub in Flint, Beloved Books in Linden, Cottage Used Books in Goodrich, Fenton’s Open Book in Fenton and R&B Used Books in Grand Blanc.

Additionally, for families in need, there are several local resources and programs available during the holiday season. Some of these include:

• Carriage Town Ministries, 605 Garland St., Flint
  Emergency food, clothing, shelter, health screening and more

• Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, 2312 Lapeer Road, Flint
  Provides assistance with food

• Greater Flint Outreach Center, 1114 University Ave., Flint
  Provides food and clothing

• South Flint Soup Kitchen, Lincoln Park United Methodist Church, 3410 Fenton Road, Flint
  Provides lunch

• Toys for Tots – Flint, 4425 South Saginaw St., Flint
  Provides holiday toys for children

YouthQuest is made possible through the generous support of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and 21st Century Community Learning Centers.