With the 2021 school year kicking into gear, Noozhawk has put together our annual ParentNooz After School Activities Guide. After a tummultuous year of remote learning, we made sure to make things easy when planning your child’s after school activities! Our 2021 After School Activities guide provides you and your child with all the necessary information when deciding on which after school program is the best fit.
To give parents the tools to help make informed decisions about after school programs for their kids in Santa Barbara, Noozhawk has conducted a series of interviews with representatives of local programs for this year’s After School Activities Guide.
In this interview, Noozhawk spoke with Taylor Burke, Intern at Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara, to learn more about their after school program here in Santa Barbara.
Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara
Question: What is the name of your After School Activity/Program? What is its mission?
Answer: Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara’s After-School Enrichment Program is inspiring girls to be Strong, Smart, and Bold.
Q: Describe the activities involved in your After School Activity/Program.
A: Youth participate in various interactive activities that reflect our mission to be Strong (healthy), Smart (educated), and Bold (independent). Our classes for girls and teens include developmentally-appropriate STEM-based projects, media literacy and production, economic literacy, college prep and future planning, healthy bodies and minds, social activism art, and much more. The program also includes dedicated time each day for the youth to focus on their homework and build academic confidence with the help of our facilitators.
Q: What are the hours of your after school activity or program?
A: Monday-Friday from school dismissal until 5:30 PM.
Q: What is the age range for children to take part in your after school activity or program?
A: Students ages 5-18.
Q: When was your program started and what was the inspiration for creating it?
A: Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara is proud to have served girls in our community for more than 60 years. Over the decades the programming has evolved to focus more on girls in STEM, building academic confidence and pursuing post-secondary education opportunities, and preparing girls to take the lead and become strong advocates. The need today is stronger than ever for girls and teens to have a safe, inclusive space to explore their curiosities and develop their inherent strengths and leadership in a supportive, pro-girl environment.
Q: Describe what makes your after school program unique and worthwhile.
A: Girls Inc. offers research-based programming led by trained facilitators in order to focus on the whole girl in a safe and supportive environment. Youth discover and develop skills for healthy living, academic enrichment, and life skills, and learn how to advocate for themselves and for others.
The Girls Inc. experience is built through three key assets: people, environment, and research-based programming. Our staff and volunteers always join the team passionate about and dedicated to our mission but are further trained to create mentorship relationships with girls and families and serve as role models. Our environment is a sisterhood of respect that is physically and emotionally safe for all involved. Our programming is shaped by research of the needs of girls today to always ensure they are exposed to new experiences and opportunities that enrich their daily lives.
We believe that this wholistic approach encourages girls to lead independent and fulfilling lives outside of our program. We asked one of our current students, Lauren (9), what she has gotten out of her Girls Inc. experience. She says, “Even if I’m going through a hard situation I can come to Girls Inc. and there are other girls who might also be going through a hard time. I’ve learned here that if I just be myself, I don’t have to worry about what other people might think about me”.
Q: Following COVID-19 restrictions, what parts of your program have changed to comply with Santa Barbara County guidelines?
A: Girls Inc. continues to follow health and safety protocols as stated by the California Department of Public Health. Youth are assigned to learning teams by grade, with dedicated facilitators for the duration of the program. Each learning team is self-contained to its own classroom and follows a timely schedule when using our public spaces.
Families will notice new processes that include curbside drop-off and pick up, reconfigured classroom spaces that respect social distancing guidelines, mandatory mask requirements, and daily staff and girl health checks before entering the center. The center is also disinfected throughout the day and undergoes a thorough sanitizing cleaning each evening.
As well, we offer virtual programming to support connection during the pandemic and beyond. The virtual activities focus on movement, art, and STEM for all ages. It is a great opportunity for girls new to Girls Inc. to try one of our programs as well as returning students looking to stay involved from home.
Q: What is the average program size or class size for your activity? Teacher to student ratio?
A: Our ratio for fall programming is 14:1 to maintain the implemented COVID-19 protocols.
Q: In what ways is your program educational?
A: Girls participate in activities that focus on and enhance the learning they are doing at school and are provided with homework assistance. We also provide students with education on life-skills and leading healthy lives. Topics vary depending on age but all girls learn about healthy decision making, how to treat others, healthy relationships, and how to be a strong girl. Learning these skills at a young age builds confidence in each girl and leads to greater success in their education. One of our students, Alexandra (11), says “I really like how many opportunities we have to try different things. I got into surfing and acting at Girls Inc. I’ve learned here that you can do anything you want if you put your mind to it”.
Q: What is the cost/tuition? Are scholarships available?
A: Fees range depending on age and rate. Full-time tuition for grades TK-6 is $115/week and $70/week for part-time tuition. Grades 7 and up pay $60/week for full-time status and $35/week for part-time. As well, there is a $35 annual registration fee. We offer financial assistance for qualifying families, and a 10% sibling discount option.
Click here for more information about Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara and their after school programs!