Celebrate Afterschool Professionals

Camp Fire First Texas is celebrating Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week, April 21–25, along with the National AfterSchool Association, to recognize, appreciate and advocate for those who work with young people during out-of-school hours.

In the Fort Worth and Aledo communities, Camp Fire’s afterschool programs provide safe, engaging environments where youth build meaningful relationships, develop life skills and gain confidence through hands-on activities and relationship building. Each day, trained and passionate staff members create spaces where kids can explore, grow, and thrive beyond the school bell.

“Camp Fire afterschool professionals are mentors, role models and champions for the youth in our programs,” said Jenny Wester, vice president of youth development at Camp Fire First Texas. “Their work goes far beyond homework help — they’re building resilience, encouraging curiosity, and helping kids discover who they are. We are proud to honor their impact this week and every week.”

Why is it important to recognize afterschool professionals?
An estimated 7.8 million children participate in afterschool programs each year. For every child in an afterschool program, two more are waiting to get in. Every young person deserves high-quality afterschool experiences that positively impact their development. It takes skilled professionals to create these experiences. Because of the important role afterschool professionals play in kids’ lives, they deserve recognition and support.

What is Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week?
Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week is a time to recognize, appreciate and advocate for those who work with young people during out-of-school hours. The week is marked by celebrations, public relations and advocacy efforts encouraging appreciation and support for afterschool professionals who make a profound difference in the lives of young people.

Who is an afterschool professional?
Afterschool professionals are skilled individuals who work with children and youth in diverse school and community-based settings to provide a variety of positive developmental relationships and experiences during out-of-school hours. An estimated 850,000 individuals currently work in the afterschool profession in the United States.

For more information about Camp Fire First Texas afterschool programs, visit: https://www.campfirefw.org/camp-fire-afterschool-childcare-program/

To learn more about Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week, visit: https://naaweb.org/page/AfterschoolProfessionalsAppreciationWeek