Boise (4/24/24) – The Idaho Out-of-School Network today announced the names of six Idaho Afterschool Champions for 2024, as part of National Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week. This national celebration highlights the importance of the more than 850,000 people who provide academic support, social support and enrichment activities for youth outside of classroom time. Each year, ION requests nominations from across Idaho to identify Afterschool Champions and recognize individuals for their outstanding contributions to youth programs and communities. This year winners fall on a spectrum ..read more

By Sarah Roach: We have a very small, rural library and our afterschool program constantly faces challenges; for example, we are forced to hold programs outside, no matter the weather because the library occupancy limit is only sixteen which is less than the number of kids in the program.  Six years ago, Clifford and Kathy Scheline began volunteering with the Donnelly Library’s after-school program. Now the Dragon Readers’ Club is a huge success and everyday students rush into the Library to brag about achievements and get attention from Grandpa and Grandma Library. Papa and Grandma Libra ..read more

April 10, 2024 – Today at Ustick Elementary in Boise, Idaho, 3rd graders gather are ready to bolt out of the school door, jump on bikes and race around the school. But it won’t be a free-for-all. Today is the day they have been waiting for knowing there will be a pile of bikes, safety cones, bike helmets and Idaho’s newest 2024 Afterschool Champion – Lisa Brady. Lisa was nominated by her peers and selected by ION for National Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week (April 22-26, 2024). ION will announce several more Idaho Afterschool Champions by the end of the month. Like Lisa, each of th ..read more

Spotlight on You: STEM Week with Lemhi County 4-H In November 2023 the small, rural towns of Salmon and Leadore, Idaho lit-up (literally!) with STEM education, thanks to Taylor Smith and Shannon Williams of University of Idaho Extension 4-H of Lemhi County. They reached almost every kid in the county with STEM lessons during STEM Week. They modeled the week of education after Ag Week, a 4-H tradition. Using their TMC Lab and community partners, they presented 1-hour STEM lessons at every public school in their county, did STEM activities with homeschool students at the local library, and distr ..read more

Feb 28, 2024 – The Utah Educational Policy Center conducted a comprehensive evaluation of 21 grants made by the Idaho Out-of-School Network totaling $1.5 million for 2022-2023 School Year, for out-of-school time (OST) youth programs across the state. ION also supported those grantees with technical assistance, training and coaching on best practices for quality youth programming. UEPC assessed the impacts and effectiveness of programs by reviewing all written materials and conducted surveys and interviews. This report includes survey data from 141 parents (and guardians) and 51 youth program s ..read more

Feb 6, 2024 – Meet Sophia, 2024 Million Girls Moonshot Flight Crew from Boise, Idaho Borah High School student, Sophia Dimas, is most interested in computer science. But that is just one reason she is Idaho’s representative to the Million Girls Moonshot program. Sophia is also active in out-of-school projects like the Women’s Children’s Alliance and the Girls Who Code program. She has already received the Borah Senator’s Choice Award, and National Hispanic Recognition Award for her leadershp. Sophia also says: “My STEM programs have introduced me to hands-on robotics and coding, which have hel ..read more

Funding from the Idaho Out-of-School Network helped a summer camp in Boise reach more young learners than ever before and allowed the program to expand its offerings to the Teton Valley. “This was transformational for the success of our summer camp operations,” said Julia Grief, Development and Alumni Coordinator for One Stone. “Staff salaries are one of the largest line items in camp budgets. ION funding helped cover these costs and allowed us to hire extra support, which allowed us to increase registration caps.” Additionally, the grant funding covered the cost of daily healthy snacks and l ..read more

The Idaho Out-of-School Network (ION) unveiled a new educational tool today, a Think Make Create (TMC) mobile makerspace lab at the Boys and Girls Club in Nampa. It is the final of 28 TMC labs placed around Idaho just in time for fall afterschool youth programs.   A TMC mobile makerspace lab is a place where kids can “do science” while having fun. Activities help kids master the basic skills needed for future jobs in science, technology, math, and engineering (STEM). Idaho’s TMC mobile makerspace labs were created by the Idaho Out-of-School Network and the University of Idaho 4H program ..read more

Funds totaling more than $1.12 million have been awarded to 19 qualifying nonprofit organizations, public schools, faith-based organizations, and/or municipalities by the Idaho Out-of-School Network. Boise, ID 7-27-2023. The Idaho Out-of-School Network (ION) has awarded grants to communities and K-12 youth programs addressing the unfinished learning needs of youth and to improve the quality of out-of-school time. ION is pleased to support these exemplary programs that provide student enrichment, academic, social and emotional learning opportunities. As the impact of the pandemic continues, fam ..read more

Post by Wendy Wilson, STEM Education and Communication Coordinator The Idaho Out-of-School Network has agreed to partner with the United Way of Treasure Valley to implement a multi-million dollar, 5-year funding opportunity for “full-service” community schools to be located across the state. Community schools are public schools augmented with additional services including afterschool programs, family engagement programs and nutritional programs for youth and families. Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona visited Idaho on November 28, 2023 to make the announcement. Secretary Cardona encourag ..read more