July 29 - 30, 2024

Holiday Inn, Fargo

The North Dakota Afterschool Network and Child Care Aware of ND are partnering for a second year to host the ND Out-of-School Time and Early Childhood Summit! Join us for two days of in-person learning and connecting with early childhood and school-age out-of-school time program leaders!

Registration Cost:

$75 for Day 1 or Day 2

$125 for Both Days

Taco Bell Ambition Accelerator 2024 Application is Live: Do you know bold innovators (ages 16-26) determined to drive positive change? Encourage them to apply to the Ambition Accelerator, which fuels young innovators' powerful ideas for positive change in their communities. Young people at any stage in their ventures are eligible to apply. Young people could receive total cash prizes up to $25,000, guaranteed $500 prizes for 260 applicants, continued mentorship by industry experts, virtual skill-building and networking, connection to our national community, application and project plan feedback, and more. Application open until March 14, 2024 and is FREE to apply.

Improve Job Opportunities for Youth Affected by Violence, Poverty: The U.S. Department of Labor announced an $85 million funding opportunity to support programs that provide skill straining through work-based learning, employment services, educational support and mentorship to youth and young adults in communities affected by violence, crime, and poverty. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, school districts, tribal organizations, and more. Applications due by April 2, 2024.

North Dakota Corn Council FREE Teacher Resources: The North Dakota Corn Utilization Council announces a new initiative to provide free lessons to ND educators and bring STEM education into K-12 classrooms through the launch of Mystery of Corn Educational readers. ND educators can subscribe for free to receive a reader for each student to investigate a mystery about corn. These readers can be used along with other corn STEM lessons or as a standalone piece. Each reader comes with a teacher guide and supplemental teaching materials. The readers have been developed to meet ND educational standards and four versions are available: K-1, 2-5, 6-8, and 9-12. Suggested uses of the readers include activities for substitute teachers, science or STEM learning time, small reading groups or reading centers, career exploration, and as an afterschool resource.

Main Street Community Education Grants: The State Historical Society of North Dakota is administering the Cultural Heritage Grant Program for projects encouraging partnership between a teacher/educator and a local museum or history organization that will connect youth, young adults, and the community to local and regional history. Teachers and educators are encouraged to apply for a Project Grant up to $15,000 or a Field Trip Grant up to $1,500. Projects must be completed by May 31, 2025. Application must be received a minimum of 4 weeks prior to event and funds are allocated on a rolling basis.

Discover Literacy Grants: Discover is offering grants of up to $5,000 to nonprofit organizations working in the areas of education and literacy. Funding, donations, and sponsorships are intended to support programs and initiatives that meet the needs of various communities across the country. Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.

BNSF Railway: Grants will be considered for a BNSF Railway Foundation grant if they meet at least two of the following criteria: Your organization or project has significant BNSF employee participation, your organization or services provided are in close proximity to a BNSF main line; or if BNSF is the only railroad in your state; Your request is related to the railroad industry; and/or your request is for direct programming or project support. Strong preference given to requests that fall under the following areas of interest: Environmental, sustainability, or conservation projects, health & human services, or cultural and historic preservation. Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.

"As a woman, you are just as capable as a man to pursue STEM interests. The world needs what you have to offer and your voice deserves to be heard." - Grace, North Dakota

Introducing the 2024 Flight Crew

51 young people, from 50 states have been selected to join the 2024 Million Girls Moonshot Flight Crew! This year the 2024 cohort will advocate for out-of-school STEM learning and equity in STEM for young people across the nation. The Flight Crew and their insight into their afterschool STEM experiences will help us amplify the importance of our work and its impact on the lives of millions of young people, their families, and communities. 

The ND Afterschool Network is delighted to tap into the expertise of the Flight Crew. Youth voice and insight into their afterschool STEM experiences will help us amplify the importance of our work and its impacts on the lives of millions of young people, their families, and communities.