A new after-school program is set to begin this fall on the campus of West Virginia Wesleyan College, offering local elementary school students a unique blend of academic support and enrichment activities.
The program, called “The Adventure After School,” is a collaboration between Appalachian Impact, a local nonprofit, and the Center for Community Engagement at West Virginia Wesleyan College. It aims to provide a safe and healthy environment for students in grades 2-5 while their parents finish their workday.
The program will run on Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and will be divided into two semesters. The first semester will run from September to November, and the second from January to April. Each semester is offered at an affordable price of just $20, making it accessible to many families in the area.
“The West Virginia Afterschool Network tells us that students engage in their riskiest behaviors between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., when their parents or guardians are still at work,” said Julie McCourt, program coordinator. “The adventure was created to provide students with safer after-school options in a fun and healthy way.”
Key features of The Adventure After School program include:
- Tutoring and homework help to improve academic results
- Healthy Eating Initiatives
- Character Development Exercises
- Fun experiences to build confidence
- Partnerships with groups on campus
The program aims to reinforce what students learn during the school day while providing fun and engaging activities. By collaborating with various groups on campus, organizers hope to expose participants to a wide range of potential future experiences and interests.
“We love the idea of having the program on a college campus because it allows students to experience a wide variety of experiences in one place: sports, academics, music, theater, art and more,” McCourt said. “If The Adventure is successful this school year, we hope to expand the program to other days of the week.”
Parents interested in reserving a spot for their child for the fall semester are encouraged to email McCourt at julie@appalachianimpact.org.
