ADVOCATE | LIGHTS ON AFTERSCHOOL

Lights on Afterschool

Join us as we celebrate the annual Lights on Afterschool on October 24th - register your program today and receive free, engaging activities to make your event shine!

What is Lights On Afterschool?

Lights On Afterschool is the only nationwide event that celebrates and advocates for afterschool programs. The Alaska Afterschool Network is committed to raising awareness of the role afterschool, before-school, and summer learning programs play in ensuring our kids graduate from high school and are ready for the workforce.

On Thursday, October 24, programs across Alaska celebrated Lights On Afterschool and showcased the incredible work that afterschool does in keeping kids safe, inspiring youth to grow, and giving parents peace of mind. Lights On Afterschool events, like afterschool programs, come in all shapes and sizes, from public rallies to open houses to newsletters.

Whether you’re planning a family fun night, a media campaign, tour of your program for partners and families, or beyond for 2025, check out our resources below. From activity sheets, to social media resources, to themed activities for your event, we’re here top help make your Lights On Afterschool event shine!

Lights On Toolbox

Visit the Lights On Toolbox to print the 2024 Alaska Afterschool Fact Sheet and activity sheets, customize a Lights On Afterschool Poster, and find social media resources.

Aurora Activities

Make your event GLOW with Northern Lights themed activities from UA Museum of the North!

If you are hosting a Lights On event this year, register with the Afterschool Alliance. Once registered, keep browsing the Lights On Afterschool website for more resources and information on how to maximize your celebration.

Make your Lights On Afterschool Event Glow with a Northern Lights Theme!

Northern Lights Activities from UA Museum of the North

Find aurora activities HERE

Customizable Aurora Poster

Add your program’s information to this customizable poster to hang and distribute. Find the template HERE

Brighten Up Social Media
with Stories of Lights On

A Social Media Toolkit For Your Program

Right click on an image and then select “Save Image As…” to save it to your desktop. Then, you can upload it to any social media platform you’d like! Feel free to use our suggested post text or think of captions of your own. Looking for something for elevating Lights On Afterschool and can’t find it? Email Program Specialist Erin Moriearty here.

Suggested Post Text

Afterschool is so much more than a place to wait until caregivers are done with work, it's a place for children and youth to explore and use their imaginations! At ____(insert the name of your program), kids explore their passions every day! That's why this October, we're shining a light on afterschool during #LightsOnAfterschool. What did you get to explore at an afterschool program you attended?

Suggested Post Text

97% of Alaskan parents are satisfied with their child's afterschool program - they feel safe knowing that when they're working, their kids are building life skills, getting help with homework, and engaging in fun learning opportunities. That's why at ____ (insert program name), we're turning the #LightsOnAfterschool on October ___. Join us in raising awareness of the benefits of afterschool by sharing our posts!

Suggested Post Text

How did or do afterschool programs shape you or your child? There are so many incredible activities at afterschool programs that increase confidence, provide opportunities for exploration, and encourage creativity, it's hard to list! Comment your favorite way that ___(insert program name) has helped your child!