Afterschool centers are known for being flexible spaces where young people enjoy freedom of talk and movement, build long-term relationships with peers and staff, and engage in choice-based programming that supports them in exploring their interests and emerging identities. These conditions are ideal for connected forms of learning that differ…

Too many of today's children spend too much time indoors, often interacting with screens. They don't get enough physical exercise. Their learning about nature comes from books and teachers rather than from firsthand exploration of natural phenomena. These issues affect most modern American children, but they are particularly prominent among…