Exciting news! We're welcoming the NEW AELA Expanded Learning Champions, starting with Molly Suiter from The CARE Center! Molly is dedicated to creating opportunities for students and communities to thrive. Join us in celebrating Molly's incredible impact! 👏

🌟 AELA Extended Learning Champion Spotlight! 🌟 Meet Jennifer Baker of Winston County Schools—30+ years in education and a fierce advocate for afterschool! #AELA #AfterschoolChampions #ExtendedLearning #EducationLeadership #AfterschoolWorks

We're excited to be at the AALECE Gulf Coast Early Childhood Summer Symposium collaborating, learning, and networking with educators from across the state.

Spark STEM curiosity with Genomics Learning Journeys from STEM Next + Illumina! Free, hands-on DNA science activities for afterschool & summer programs Explore today: bit.ly/43XlSUn #STEMLearning #Genomics

Melanie, a former member of the inaugural Alabama STEM Flight Crew, has been selected as an intern at Tuskegee University through the NASA Minority University Research and Education Program's Pre-College STEM camp. Congrats Melanie! We love to watch you soar!

🌟 AELA Extended Learning Champion Spotlight! 🌟 Meet Lisa Nimmer, Exec. Director of Healthy Kids, Inc.! With 28 years in education & nonprofit leadership, she leads social-emotional focused summer programs, child care, parenting education & more.

Calling all youth programs, churches & community orgs! Get ready for STEM Exploration at Montgomery Whitewater on August 1st—a FREE, fun-filled day of hands-on STEM activities for youth! alabamaexpandedlearningalliance.org/case/stem-expl…

Announcing Alabama's 2025 STEM Flight Crew! AELA proudly welcomes 12 exceptional youth leaders. This forward-thinking program provides a hybrid learning experience and engages participants in a variety of activities designed to advocate for STEM education. #ALFlightCrew

Wishing you a happy and safe 4th of July from the team at AELA!

We’re proud to support National Summer Learning Week July 14–18, 2025, a nationwide celebration of programs and partners working to keep kids learning, safe, and thriving all summer long. Explore resources & ways to get involved: bit.ly/4mJkWKm #SummerLearningWeek

Felicia Simpson & Tracye Strichik loved visiting Semper Fi Adventures in Indian Springs Village! This vibrant program blends Smartplay’s sports-based learning with hands-on enrichment — including drone flying for STEM career exploration. Inspiring work!

Thank you to Children’s Fresh Air Farm in Bluff Park for hosting AELA, ALSDE, SAIL, A+, and state leaders! We loved seeing your vibrant summer program in action — from classrooms to gardens. Your commitment to whole-child growth inspires us!

AELA & VOICES for Alabama's Children loved visiting Cullman City Schools' amazing #STEM summer camp! Inspired by Gov. Ivey’s support for #summerlearning, we saw students shine with creativity, collaboration & critical thinking. Thanks to all who made it possible! 🌟 #ALExCEL

We’re so proud of AELA’s very own Regional Hub Director, Lindsey Blevins, for serving on a national panel with the Afterschool Alliance to spotlight the importance of 21CCLC! Lindsey brought Alabama’s voice to the table!

Nominations are OPEN for the 2025 ACEA Awards! Know someone making a big impact in afterschool or community learning in Alabama? Nominate them today! 📅 Awards presented Nov. 17–19 in Florence, AL alabamaexpandedlearningalliance.org/acea-conference #ACEA2025 #AfterschoolWorks #AELANetwork

Activity alert! Vivify STEM offers 10 engaging activities designed to connect real-world careers with youth interests. Check them out here: bit.ly/41BOsYN #AfterschoolSTEM #STEMCareers #SummerLearning #STEMEducation

Want to bring hands-on engineering to your PK-8 learners? Check out the YES webinar to see how educators use this free, research-based curriculum to build problem-solving skills & STEM identity. Watch the webinar + explore YES: yes.mos.org Museum of Science

Join us and more than 8,000 programs nationwide in celebrating the power of afterschool and summer learning on October 23, 2025. Afterschool Webinar: Lights On Afterschool 101 Thursday, September 4, 2025 1:00 PM CT bit.ly/4oGTL3J

Nominate a Difference Maker! Know someone in Alabama’s expanded learning field who’s making an outstanding impact? Submit your nomination for the ACEA Conference Awards today alabamaexpandedlearningalliance.org/acea-conference

Ready to connect STEM to real-world careers? Join STEM Next on Sept 24 @ 2 PM CT for a free webinar introducing a brand-new framework designed just for OST. ✅Powerful resources ✅Hands-on STEM lessons ✅A chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card. 🔗 bit.ly/45ulxss