NMOST

Making - Automata
2024-04-14 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Denver)
Making – Automata
A workshop at Explora for educators, librarians, and OST Staff
Interested in Makerspace activities? Use the Maker mindset to make your own automata! You’ll explore the unconventional possibilities using simple, common materials.
Participants are eligible to receive a classroom visit on automata making activities for their students.
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Cyber-Rights: A Virtual Town Hall Event
2024-04-11 16:00 - 17:00
Join NGCP for Cyber-Rights: A Virtual Town Hall Event, where we’ll explore the vital role of cybersecurity in safeguarding privacy and human rights in today’s digital age. With a central theme of “CS for Good,” this event is relevant to all, appealing to a diverse audience interested in the intersection of technology and human rights. Hosted and moderated by Sandra Yang, NGCP Youth Advisory Board Chair, Cyber-Rights will feature a panel of leading experts from various fields, offering insights and practical strategies for social media users, software developers, and others. Discuss the digital education gap, censorship’s impact on AI accuracy, and online privacy protection. Empower yourself to advocate for digital rights in your community and beyond. Cyber-Rights promises to inform and inspire whether you’re a teenager navigating an interconnected world or a tech professional seeking new perspectives.”
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Engineering with Recyclables
2024-04-11 14:00 - 16:00
Engineering with Recyclables
A virtual workshop for early childhood educators, librarians and out-of-school time providers (2 CEU hours). Engineer cars, play with plastic proportions, and design musical instruments out of recycled materials. Register by March 29th for kit pickup or shipment for first 20 registrants. Sharing a kit is possible.
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Maximizing Participation in Summer Meals and Summer EBT
2024-04-11 13:00 - 14:00
Maximizing Participation in Summer Meals and Summer EBT
The traditional Summer Nutrition Programs and Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) are complementary programs – ensuring access to both programs will help alleviate summertime food insecurity for millions of children across the country.
Join the Food Research & Action Center for a webinar on promising practices for maximizing participation at summer meals sites as well as in the new, permanent Summer EBT program. We will hear from advocates and stakeholders on their outreach plans and strategies for leveraging both programs for Summer 2024 and beyond.
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Design Squad Latinx Dissemination Toolkit
2024-04-10 12:00 - 13:00
Design Squad Latinx Dissemination Toolkit
Come and learn all about Design Squad Latinx (DSL), an exciting bilingual (Spanish-English) initiative that engages kids ages 10-13 in the engineering design process through fun-packed, high-energy, hands-on challenges. Hear how the program was developed with and for Latinx communities in the continental United States and Puerto Rico. See how DSL encourages kids to apply their own valuable existing funds of knowledge to solve meaningful problems and, in doing so, supports them in seeing themselves as the designers, engineers, and creators they are.
After the webinar, all registrants will receive

Four bilingual engineering program modules with videos
Access to a one-hour, self-paced, online training on Design Squad Latinx
Professional development resources on funds of knowledge

Speakers:

Nicki Sirianni, Education Outreach & Marketing Manager, GBH Education
Leslie Brooks, Afterschool STEM Hub Manager, Afterschool Alliance

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Power Hour - Building and Assessing Leadership Skills
2024-03-07 14:00 - 15:00
Join the Young Entrepreneur Institute on March 7 for a Power Hour on Building and Assessing Leadership Skills!

Theme: Building and Assessing Leadership Skills
Content: Join us Thurs., Mar. 7, to learn the fundamentals of building leadership skills in your students and how to utilize a new tool to assess their progress! Hear from:

Rachel DePriest, from Effective Leadership Academy
Mathew Georghiou, from GoVenture
Gavin Pringle, from JAKAPA

Who: K-12 Educator
Where: Via Zoom (you will receive a link after signing up)
When: Thurs., Mar. 7, 2:00 – 3:00 PM MST.

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Summer Planning Bootcamp
2024-03-06 11:00 - 13:00
Explore Unique Summer Potential with the NSLA Summer Planning Bootcamp!
Summer isn’t just a season; it’s a canvas of opportunity for youth to explore, learn, play, dream, move, create, and connect. All children deserve access to an enriching summer experience that supports their personal and academic development. Let’s create unique opportunities for students that will continue to impact their growth beyond the summertime!
Join NSLA on March 6-7 at NSLA’s free virtual Summer Planning Bootcamp to get ready for a fun and productive summer. The two-day webinar series is designed to equip you with tools, ideas, and best practices to elevate your summer program planning game. Guided by dynamic experts and leaders, day 1 will focus on policy and research, student well-being, and using summer to promote youth voice, nature, community service, college prep, and career exposure. On day 2, we will shift towards academic support, creative enrichment activities, and partnerships to support and reach more youth.
Wednesday, March 6 from 11:00am – 1:00pm MST
Panel 1: Summer Learning Landscape
Panel 2: Supporting Thriving Youth with Mental and Physical Well-being
Panel 3: Summer Time for Exploration & Innovation
Thursday, March 7 from 11:00am – 1:00pm MST
Panel 4: Elevating Summer Learning
Panel 5: Summer of Curiosity and Creativity
Panel 6: Powerful Partnerships for Summer
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Women Who Tell Our STEM Stories
2024-03-05 12:00 - 13:00
National Women’s History Month is celebrating “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion” this year. Join NGCP as they work to amplify the voices of women in STEM and create STEM experiences that are as diverse as the world we live in!
This Women’s History Month (March 2024), NGCP honors and celebrates all the incredible women countering stereotypes, inspiring youth, and breaking barriers in STEM for future generations. Join us for this webinar to hear the personal career journeys – including barriers and challenges – faced by a dynamic panel of women STEM professionals at different points in their careers. Leave this webinar with tips, advice, and resources for supporting girls and women in STEM in your own settings.
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How Programs Are Leveraging ESSER Funds to Support Afterschool and Summer Learning
2024-02-22 12:00 - 13:00
Join the Afterschool Alliance for the next Engage Every Student webinar on February 22, 2024, for a presentation on the recently released report “Investments in Student Recovery: A Review of School Districts’ Use of American Rescue Plan Funding to Support Afterschool and Summer Opportunities.” In late January 2025, school districts and states will face the liquidation deadline for more than $120 billion America Rescue Plan ESSER III funds. How have these funds been used to date in support of comprehensive afterschool and summer enrichment programs? How have school-community partnerships been leveraged to support students when school is out? What opportunities persist to build partnerships, maximize remaining funds, and ensure afterschool and summer programs can engage every student once the funding deadline passes?

The report digs into these questions and more! It finds that eight in 10 districts invested in afterschool and summer programs — representing more than $5.4 billion. Following an overview of the report, participants will learn how various school districts are leveraging ESSER funds to support students through afterschool and summer learning programs.

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Explora: Water Wonders
2024-02-22 10:00 - 12:00
A virtual workshop for early childhood educators, librarians and out-of-school time providers (2 CEU hours).
Bring your own water! We will get our hands wet as we make discoveries about water. Experiment with absorption, adhesion, and surface tension.
Held virtually. Zoom link will be sent to registrants the day before.
Registration is requested by February 9 for kit shipment for first 20 registrants. You may share a kit and login.
Registration
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Explora: STEM in Fairy Tales
2024-02-20 15:00 - 17:00
A virtual workshop for early childhood educators, librarians, and out-of-school time providers (2 CEU hours).
How much weight can Rapunzel’s hair hold? How tall is the Giant from Jack in the Beanstalk? Discover the answers as you explore the STEM in your favorite fairy tales.
Register by February 5 for kit pickup or shipment for first 20 registrants. Share a kit and login!
Registration
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Summer Service-Learning: Transform Summers into Impactful Experiences
2024-02-13 10:00 - 11:00
Join the National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) February 13 at 10 AM MST for this free opportunity to expand your service-learning practice. Make every summer count by using service-learning in your summer programming. Combine learning with action as students embark on a journey of community impact. Share your ideas and learn from others who are using or want to use service-learning this summer to engage youth in meaningful experiences in this 45 minute session. Summers can become times for youth-led change!
Can’t make this webinar? Schedule a free consultation with an NYLC service-learning expert to talk about summer service-learning.
Register here.

Explora: Mystery Boxes
2024-02-10 10:00 - 12:00
A workshop for educators, librarians, and OST Staff.
Tap into your curiosity, problem-solving skills, and ability to make inferences as you use inquiry to uncover the secrets of mystery boxes! Discover more about the NM STEM Ready! Standards in this intriguing workshop. Participants are eligible to receive a classroom visit on mystery boxes for their students.
In-person at Explora.
Registration
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Explora: Seeds and Soil
2024-02-07 14:00 - 16:00
A virtual workshop for early childhood teachers, OST professionals, and librarians (2 CEU hours)
Come learn how to plant seeds of STEM with your students! You’ll get dirty with soil and dirt, design your own seed through the Engineering Design Process, and determine your ideal seed bomb!
Virtual – Zoom link sent the day before.
Registration is requested by January 26 for kit pickup or shipment for the first 20 registrants. Share a kit and login!
Registration
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The Power of Collaboration: Strategies and Lessons Learned from the NGCP Network
2024-02-06 14:00 - 15:00
Join the National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP) to apply research-based collaboration strategies to enhance your science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities and programs. Collaboration enables professionals across programs and communities to generate and carry out creative solutions and strategies that maximize benefit beyond what one could accomplish alone, and research suggests that by creating collaborations among organizations committed to engaging youth in STEM, we can improve youth STEM experiences. Presenters will share the NGCP collaboration model, exemplary practices in collaboration, and examples of successful collaborations in the NGCP network.
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Explora: Making an Escape Room
2024-02-04 10:00 - 12:00
For teachers, librarians, and OST professionals of grades 3+
This workshop will explore strategies for incorporating engineering, logic, math skills, and creativity as your students create their own escape rooms.
No prior knowledge or experience required! Participants are eligible to receive a classroom visit on escape room activities for their students.

In-person at Explora
Registration
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Explora: Easy Breezy
2024-01-25 14:00 - 16:00
A virtual workshop for early childhood teachers, OST professionals, and librarians (2 CEU hours)
“Catch” air to see that it takes up space, use air to do work, and learn about the power of air pressure.
Virtual – Zoom link sent the day before.
Registration is requested by January 12 in order to receive a kit for the first 20 registrants. Share a kit and login!
Registration
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Explora: Intro to Micro:bits
2024-01-20 10:00 - 12:00
Explora: Intro to Micro:bits
Saturday, January 20 from 10:00AM – Noon at Explora
A workshop for educators, librarians, and OST Staff.
Want to get into computer science and coding? In this workshop, you will learn how to use simple, common materials with micro:bit microcontrollers in creative ways. This an introduction with no previous coding experience required!
Participants are eligible to receive a classroom visit on micro:bit activities for their students. Questions? Email reservations@explora.us
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STEM Pathways for Girls
2024-01-13 09:00 - 15:00
STEM Santa Fe is excited to announce January’s STEM Pathways for Girls Workshop!
In a collaboration between Explora and STEM Santa Fe, we present to our families an all expense paid field trip to Explora’s newest teen center: X Studio.
Explora has kindly covered the cost for a bus to take our STEM Santa Fe STEM Pathways for Girls students (and some parent chaperones) on a journey to X Studio and back to Santa Fe on January 13th, 2024. Lunch is included.
Sign Up Now
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How to Apply: The New York Life Foundation - 2024 Aim High RFP Grant Program for OST Programs Serving Middle School Youth
2024-01-11 12:00 - 13:00
The New York Life Foundation is set to award 40 grants to out-of-school time (OST) programs serving youth through their Aim High local grant program. Join us for a webinar on January 11 at 12 p.m. ET to learn more about this funding opportunity, eligibility requirements, and expectations. Speakers will include Marlyn Torres, Senior Program Officer at the New York Life Foundation, and Tiyana Glenn, Project Manager at the Afterschool Alliance and co-administrator of the grant application and review process. We encourage you to review the application beforehand, prepare questions, and hear tips on submitting a strong application.
The Aim High RFP grant program is part of the New York Life Foundation’s ongoing investment in middle school OST programs, dedicated to supporting youth in successfully transitioning to the ninth grade on time and prepared for high school. The grant program will provide funding for 40 afterschool, summer, and expanded learning programs nationwide, selected through a competitive application process.
Applications are due February 1, 2024, at 5 p.m. ET. To learn more about this grant opportunity, view the full RFP and submit your application here.
FAQs
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Summer EBT Deep Dive: Eligibility
2023-12-14 13:00 - 14:00
Summer EBT Deep Dive: Eligibility – Thursday, December 14 @ 1:00pm Mountain
Join the Food Research & Action Center for a deep dive into Summer EBT eligibility. This webinar will clarify misconceptions around who is eligible and ineligible and answer questions based on available guidance and statutory language.
https://frac.org/events

Explora: Oceans of Possibilities
2023-12-07 10:00 - 12:00
Explora: Oceans of Possibilities
Thursday, December 7, 2023 from 10am – Noon
A virtual workshop for early childhood educators, librarians and out-of-school time providers (2 CEU hours).
Bring clouds, rain, and oceans to you! Explore a paper mountain watershed, engineer an acequia, and more in this two-hour virtual workshop! Register by November 27 for kit pick up or shipment for first 20 registrants. Share a login and kit of materials! Contact Explora Reservations with questions – reservations@explora.us
This workshop is offered at no cost with the generous support of Sandia National Laboratories.
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Explora: 3D Printing
2023-12-02 10:00 - 12:00
Explora: 3D Printing
Saturday, December 2, 2023 at Explora
A workshop for educators, librarians, and OST Staff.
For beginners and intermediates –
Discover the fun behind 3D printing! You’ll explore the possibilities of filaments using simple tools and software, and learn how to incorporate them into many activities. Participants are eligible to receive a classroom visit on 3D printing activities for their students.
For questions, email reservations@explora.us
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Explora: Crazy about Chromatography
2023-11-16 14:00 - 16:00
Explora: Crazy about Chromatography
Thursday, November 16, 2023
A virtual workshop for early childhood educators, librarians and out-of-school time providers – 2 CEU hours
Investigate colored markers, food coloring, and candy to see what unexpected colors each contains! Register by November 6 for kit pick up or shipment for first 20 registrants. Share a login and kit of materials!
Contact Explora Reservations with questions – reservations@explora.us
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Setting the Stage: Unpacking the Data on High Quality Afterschool Arts Programs
2023-11-16 13:00 - 14:00
Setting the Stage: Unpacking the Data on High Quality Afterschool Arts Programs – Thursday, November 16 @ 1:00pm
Join the Afterschool Alliance and Forum for Youth Investment to unpack the findings from “Setting the Stage: Practical Ideas for Implementing High-Quality Afterschool Arts Programs,” which looks at how professional teaching artists, high-quality equipment, and dedicated, welcoming art spaces can make a difference for afterschool programs interested in embedding arts learning. The report, conducted by Research for Action and McClanahan Associates, Inc. and commissioned by The Wallace Foundation, also explores research-based 10 Principles for High-Quality Afterschool Arts Programs. Join us to dig into the recommendations made by the report, gain deeper insights from the researchers themselves, and have the chance to hear firsthand accounts from programs featured in the report.
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Choosing Toys to Inspire Young Girls in STEM
2023-11-14 12:00 - 13:00
Choosing Toys to Inspire Young Girls in STEM – Tuesday, November 14 at Noon MT

Science and engineering toys have a long history of being marketed to boys. Now, toy designers – and the parents and caregivers purchasing toys – are moving for more equitable options when it comes to STEM toy offerings and the type of play that young children are encouraged to engage in. Join NGCP for this exciting webinar that will showcase research, resources, and innovative new toys that can be used for supporting STEM play with young girls (and all young children). Leave this event with the resources you need to support girls’ playful learning of the STEM skills they need to reach their full potential!

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Afterschool in Native American and Tribal Communities: Perspective, Programs & Practices
2023-11-09 13:00 - 14:00
A U.S. Department of Education Engage Every Student webinar hosted by the Afterschool Alliance.
Learn about Native American families’ perspectives on afterschool programs, from what families are looking for to barriers to participation, and hear from programs serving youth and families in Native American and tribal communities.

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Brite Application Webinar
2023-11-08 11:00 - 12:00
Brite Application Webinar
Wednesday, November 8 @ 11:00AM MT
This application webinar is an informational meeting for girl-serving informal science education programs interested in applying to BRITE Girls Online STEM Practices: Building Relevance and Identity to Transform Experiences, a Research in Service to Practice National Science Foundation Grant. During the webinar, we will review the goals of the grant, structure of the Brite Program, and the requirements for participating programs. There will also be time for questions about the application and process.
Learn more about the Brite program and application here.
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Explora: Rolling, Rolling, Rolling
2023-11-02 10:00 - 12:00
Explora: Rolling, Rolling, Rolling
Thursday, November 2 from 10:00am – Noon MT
A virtual workshop for early childhood educators, librarians and out-of-school time providers (2 CEU hours).
What can you discover about how everyday shapes roll? Roll up and down and all around in this workshop. Participants receive NMAEYC membership. Register by October 20th for kit pickup or shipment for first 20 registrants. Share a login and a kit of materials.
Please contact Explora Reservations with questions – reservations@explora.us
These workshops are provided at no cost because of generous support from NMAEYC.

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Explora: Making - Printmaking
2023-10-28 10:00 - 12:00
Explora: Making – Printmaking
Saturday, October 28 from 10:00am – Noon MT at Explora
A workshop for educators, librarians and out-of-school time staff.
Interested in Makerspace activities? Use the Maker mindset to make your own prints! You’ll explore the unconventional possibilities using simple, common materials. Participants are eligible to receive a classroom visit on automata making activities for their students.
Please contact Explora Reservations with questions – reservations@explora.us

Register
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