Building Momentum for Job Quality: Leaders Gather at Wingspread to Advance System-Level Change In mid-July, 35 out-of-school time leaders from communities and states across the country gathered at the historic Johnson Foundation at Wingspread in Racine, Wisconsin for A Convening on Advancing System-Level Job Quality in Out-of- School Time.  Hosted by the National AfterSchool Association with support from the Johnson Foundation, the invitation-only convening brought together intermediary leaders and cross-sector partners to focus on one…

Assemblywoman Shanique Speight Visits Newark Youth Career Pathways Program NJSACC was proud to join Assemblywoman Shanique Speight in visiting the Newark Youth Career Pathways 21st Century Learning Community Centers Summer program held at Rutgers University–Newark. Thank you to Executive Director Kaleena Berryman and Vice Chancellor Shantè Palmer for allowing us to visit an exemplary program for high school students participating in the policy lab. Programs like Newark Youth Career Pathways are invaluable to communities such as Newark and across the…

NJSACC loves to host events in various areas of the state! If you are interested in becoming a host location for a future training, meeting, or conference, please let us know Here’s a list of some of the things we look for in a host site: ·       As a non-profit dedicated to providing services to our OST community throughout the state, we are currently looking for no or very low cost host sites. ·       Must be conveniently located close…

Save the Dates: A New Chapter for the NJSACC Annual Conference NJSACC: New Jersey’s Afterschool and Out-of-School Time Professional Network is excited to introduce a new conference format for 2026–2027! The switch up is designed to create even more meaningful opportunities for learning, networking, and professional growth. Instead of one two-day conference, NJSACC will host two separate one-day conferences. Mark your calendars now! Our Fall Conference will take place on Friday, December 4, 2026. Then…

NJSACC 2026-2027 Fall Conference Request for Proposals – Due Friday, August 21, 2026 NJSACC: New Jersey’s Afterschool and Out-of-School Time Professional Network is excited to introduce a new conference format for 2026–2027! Instead of one two-day conference, NJSACC will host two separate one-day conferences; Fall 2026 and Spring 2027. The Fall date is Friday, December 4, 2026, and the Spring date is Friday, April 9, 2027. This RFP is specifically for the December 4, 2026…

Lights On Afterschool 2025: New Jersey Shines Bright This October New Jersey turned up the brightness for afterschool programs statewide as communities, schools, and partners came together to celebrate Lights On Afterschool. We were honored to see Governor Phil Murphy officially proclaim October 23 as Lights On Afterschool Day in New Jersey, a public recognition that underscores how vital afterschool programs are to students, families, and neighborhoods across our state. Lights On Afterschool is a…

🧪 STEM Activities For Summer Camp From Mizzen By this point in the summer, you’ve probably noticed something: Young people are naturally curious. They want to build things, test ideas, ask questions, take things apart, and figure out how the world works. As camp leaders and educators, the challenge is often finding activities that channel that curiosity without requiring hours of prep or a closet full of supplies. That’s why we created our STEM Activities…

🌞 NAA Has Quite a Bright Spotlight This Month August 19 Webinar Explores Movement-Based Activities Movement does more than support physical health, it can strengthen learning, improve behavior, and help young people build important character skills. Join the Collaborative for Advancing Healthy Experiences in OST (CAHE-OST) and Skillastics for Building Character & Academic Success Through Movement, a free virtual training to explore how movement-based activities can increase engagement, support academic success, and foster teamwork, perseverance,…

✨ Inspiring New Ideas for a Changing OST Landscape ✨ As the needs of youth, families, and communities continue to evolve, so too must the programs that serve them. This year’s Soaring Beyond Expectations: A Statewide Afterschool Celebration once again brought together afterschool professionals from across New Jersey to explore innovative practices, exchange fresh ideas, and strengthen the future of out-of-school time. Hosted in partnership with New Jersey’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers Programs, the…