South Florida Calls Attention to the Importance of High Quality Afterschool Programs
A project of The Afterschool Alliance Lights On Afterschool is a nationwide celebration of the importance of quality out-of-school time (OST).
Prime Time celebrated this important event at Clematis by Fright for the first time since 2019, an early Halloween celebration hosted by the city of West Palm Beach. Prime Time welcomed visitors to the event – estimated between 3,000-5,000 people – at their tables with great activities used in afterschool for families and visitors.
Children and their families came through adorned in “Afterschool for All” stickers first stopping by the Lights On Afterschool booth. Everyone was given the opportunity to spin the wheel and win a light-up prize while learning about quality afterschool programming. These light-up prizes included bracelets, light sticks, yo-yos and more in a treasure chest.
The next booth featured STEAM activities and experiments. A block-building activity was presented that encouraged the youth to get hands-on and problem solve the different challenges that were given to them. The Cox Science Center and Aquarium also joined us to celebrate OST and STEAM with some glowing science experiments. A black light activity was set up with light reactive paper allowing participants to draw images with light and see them glow. A laser obstacle course was also set up letting children play with mirrors to see the effects of refraction and reflection as they maneuvered the pieces to shine their laser from one area to another.
Rock painting at the last booth celebrated the new Well-being and Life Skills Initiative. This initiative is an innovative professional learning opportunity designed to build resiliency and life skills among children and youth in afterschool Children greatly enjoyed taking paint pens and rocks and covering them in colorful decoration. This booth was packed through the night as children drew and designed and spoke with the Prime Time staff about well-being and mindfulness.
Face painting, balloon art, carnival games, hayrides, jugglers and other performers filled the evening as The Spazmatics played classic favorites on the main stage as people of all ages danced the night away.
While Lights On Afterschool may have concluded for this year Prime Time never stops offering high quality afterschool and summer programming to residents of Palm Beach and Martin counties. Just like at our booths we offer STEAM and arts activities through more than 20 expanded learning opportunity providers. In 2021-2022, more than 29,000 youth were positively impacted by Prime Time programming.
Interested in having your afterschool program join Prime Time’s network and gaining access to free trainings, scholarship opportunities, financial incentives and one-of-a-kind activities for the children attending? Click here to learn more.
