After School Matters® Offering Remote and In-Person Programs for More than 11,000 Chicago Teens this Summer

April 23, 2021

CHICAGO—Applications are open to more than 500 remote and in-person programs being offered this summer through After School Matters®. Program opportunities are available for more than 11,000 Chicago high school teens in the arts, communications and leadership, sports, and STEM, and begin the week of July 6. Interested teens can apply by visiting afterschoolmatters.org.

While most programs will continue to take place remotely, a variety of safe, in-person opportunities for teens will be offered across Chicago at After School Matters locations and in partnership with community-based organizations, following CDC, State, and City guidelines. All summer programs are paid apprenticeships and internships, and participants will earn a stipend between $336 and $850, depending on the length of time and level of expertise required for the program. All programs, both remote and in-person, will offer safe and innovative learning experiences for young people.

After School Matters surveyed its instructors, partners, parents, and teens for their feedback on returning to in-person programming and adjusted the program offerings in response to those results. Teens can search for and apply to these different opportunities based on their preferences.

“The health and welfare of After School Matters’ teens and instructors is our priority and we continue to seek their input and feedback to ensure our programming best supports them,” said After School Matters Chief Programs Officer Melissa Mister, “Our summer programs will provide engaging and safe ways for our young people to interact with their peers and instructors both remotely and in-person.”

Summer programs provide teens an opportunity to expand their subject-matter skills while developing critical thinking proficiencies in problem-solving, social awareness, collaboration, and more. Programs offer a combination of one-on-one time with mentor instructors, group participation, as well as individual work time to complete various projects. Teens who need access to technology will be able to acquire devices through After School Matters.

After School Matters programs have been a crucial part of the COVID-19 response, adapting services to meet youth and community needs, offering social-emotional supports, and filling the education gap through virtual programming. Results from a recent report in partnership between After School Matters and American Institutes for Research (AIR), found more than 76 percent of teens said their program made them more hopeful about their future, and 72 percent said their program helped them safely cope with their emotions through the current crisis. Read the full report on our website, http://afterschoolmatters.org/airreport/.

A few of the exciting programs offered this summer include:

ASM Youth Radio (Remote)

Teens will interview their peers and produce the interviews into long-form stories, learning how to structure an interview, transform the interview into a narrative, and edit the story for audio production purposes.

Astronomy & Space (Remote)

Teens will learn about urban astronomy and celestial bodies by viewing and discussing space-themed films, conducting physics experiments, studying NASA and manned space travel/rocketry, as they learn about careers in the astronomy and space field. By the end of the session, teens will be prepared to present and display newly gained astronomical knowledge for their friends and their family.

BBY Sports Referee Training Program (Remote)

Teens will train to become a confident and proficient sports official, qualified to be licensed and registered with the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). Participants will experience hands on education, training, and skills development necessary to manage and control a game of basketball, providing players the best possible experience playing the game within the guidelines of National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) rules.

Game Design (In-person Michael and Karyn Lutz Center for After School Matters)

Teens will learn the fundamental concepts of game design and development through play, analysis, and game making. Participants will play and analyze existing games (digital and analog) and then create new ones based off of the knowledge they gathered in the program.

Les Enfants (In-person After School Matters at Gately Park)

Teens will be exposed to dance as an art form, professional opportunity, and tool of expression. Participants will learn a variety of dance styles, foster personal artistic growth, and professional discipline through this program.

Painting On Canvas (In-person Millennium Park tent)

Teens will learn how to use a wide range of painting and drawing media, with a focus on cultivating their personal creative practice in this program. Participants will expand their artistic horizons through challenging activities in an engaging, fun, and collaborative class environment.

Teens can search and apply for in-person and remote summer 2021 programs at afterschoolmatters.org. All After School Matters programs are free and open to Chicago high school students who are at least 14 years old (16 years old for internships). As part of the application process, teens interview with program instructors to discuss their interests. Teens are encouraged to apply early, as program opportunities fill up quickly.

For questions about programs and applications, call 312-742-4182 or email applications@afterschoolmatters.org. Para mas información en Español llámenos al 312-846-7106 o mándenos un correo electrónico al espanol@afterschoolmatters.org.

For more information, visit www.afterschoolmatters.org.

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About After School Matters

After School Matters is a nonprofit organization that provides after-school and summer opportunities to Chicago public high school teens to explore their passions and develop their talents, while gaining critical skills for work, college, and beyond. After School Matters programs are project-based, led by industry experts, and provide a pathway to progress in skills development and independence. Teens earn a stipend while participating in programs in the arts, communications and leadership, sports, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Over the span of three decades, After School Matters has engaged more than 350,000 teens throughout the city of Chicago. www.afterschoolmatters.org

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