The OST Professional

Afterschool Professionals Network with Palm Beach County Providers to Bring Hands-On Learning Experiences to Children and Youth

Loggerhead Marinelife Center welcomed 130 afterschool professionals, Prime Time staff and expanded learning opportunity (ELO) providers for this year’s ELO Launch Party. At the event afterschool professionals got the chance to meet and mingle with many different ELO providers to learn more and schedule them to bring engaging hands-on learning experiences to the youth they serve at no cost to the program or family thanks to the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County. In 2021-2022, Prime Time offered 171,435 learning experiences that impacted 29,425 youth between October 2021 and September 2022 through its ELO providers.

The 18 featured ELO’s at the event on Thursday, September 6, included the Center for Creative Education, Cox Science Center and Aquarium, Digital Vibez, Divinity Dance, F.A.U. Pine Jog, FLIPANY – Cooking Matters, Florida Fishing Academy, Girls on the Run Palm Beach, Green Mouse Academy, KidzArt, Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County, Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), Resource Depot, The ARC, YMCA of South Palm Beach County, Young Singers of the Palm Beaches and Youth Speak Out International.

From left: Suzette Harvey, Commissioner Maria G. Marino, Nicole Edwards, Elizabeth Clark, Alexandra Peralta, Kiwana Howell

Special guests included Maria G. Marino, Palm Beach County Commissioner, and Kiwana Howell, member of Prime Time’s Board of Directors member, director of Extended Learning, School District of Palm Beach County, and representatives from Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County in attendance.

Each featured ELO was set up with a table full of information and examples of activities they could provide at afterschool programs across the county. FLIPANY had samples of healthy snacks they would teach children and youth to make, The ARC had sensory bottle crafts and F.A.U. Pine Jog had copies of its garden yoga for a youth activity. Every table also included a contact list for OST practitioners to schedule ELO’s to come to their programs.

Activities were available throughout the event for attendees to take part in, including Bingo that made visiting each provider fun while adding a layer of competition. The summer-themed photobooth was a huge hit during the event. Partygoers posed with pool inflatables, sunscreen and beachballs, while carrying signs with sayings such as, “we empower youth,” and “I ignite hearts and minds.”

Attendees were also able to enjoy the Marinelife Center. Sea Turtle patients, hatchlings and sharks were on display while workers from Loggerhead educated event guests on the center, its mission and its residents.

After this successful event, keep an eye out for other exciting ELO opportunities to appear in your afterschool programs. For more information on Prime Time ELOs, visit Prime Time's website. To see the full photo gallery from this event, click here.