YouthQuest Sites Celebrate, Advocate with ‘Lights On Afterschool’

During the school year, thousands of children go unsupervised between the hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. –around the same time that YouthQuest operates its program.

However, afterschool programs like YouthQuest aren’t just a place for students to hang out after classes end. The program offers students academic support, including STEM projects as well as enrichment activities.

In fact, according to the Afterschool Alliance, an organization that supports and advocates for afterschool programs, 65 percent of students enrolled in a quality afterschool program improve on homework completion and class participation, and one in two students improve their math and reading grades.

“We connect our program to the work students are doing during day school,” says YouthQuest Program Director Cheryl Adkins. “Students receive academic support on a daily basis, while also having the opportunity to explore new interests in a safe environment.”

To draw attention to the important role YouthQuest plays in the community, the program will participate in Lights On Afterschool – a nationwide event that highlights the many ways afterschool programs support students throughout the United States.

This year’s celebration is scheduled Thursday, Oct. 25; however, YouthQuest sites will be celebrating throughout the month.

Below, see a list of events and participating YouthQuest sites:

• Brownell Elementary – Oct. 24 from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
• Doyle Ryder Elementary – Oct. 30 from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
• Durant-Tuuri-Mott Elementary – Oct. 25 from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
• Randels Elementary and Dye Elementary – Oct. 24 from 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• Eisenhower Elementary – Oct. 17 from 4:30 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.
• Freeman Elementary at the Flint Children’s Museum – Oct. 19 from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
• International Academy of Flint Middle and High School – Oct. 11 from 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• Neithercut Elementary – Oct. 25 from 5 – 6:30 p.m.
• Pierce Elementary – Oct. 30 from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• Potter Elementary – Oct. 26 from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
• Southwestern Classical Academy – Oct. 23 – 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Interested in attending one of the events? Contact Dawn Bye at 810-600-1422 or dbye@yquest.org.

To learn more about Lights On Afterschool, which is organized by the Afterschool Alliance and includes nearly 8,000 activities this year, visit www.afterschoolalliance.org/loa.cfm.

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

Stay up to date on YouthQuest by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Sign up for the Afterschool Download email