Hundreds of children in Natrona and Converse Counties depend on the programs and services offered through the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming. By providing a safe place to go when school is out, the Club is keeping the Lights on Afterschool for its members.

To celebrate the achievements of afterschool students and draw attention to the benefit of afterschool programs, the Paradise Valley branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs is hosting a Lights on Afterschool Celebration. On Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014, join Club members and staff from 5 – 6 p.m. at Paradise Valley Elementary School, 22 E. Magnolia Street in Casper. The Celebration will feature entertainment by magician and Club alumnus Lazarus Benson, art pieces created by Club members, and highlights from Bully Free PV. In addition, the Mills and Evansville branches will be conducting activities with their Club members to raise awareness within the sites.

This event is one of more than 7,500 planned across the nation emphasizing the importance of afterschool programs for the millions of children nationwide who are unsupervised and at risk each weekday afternoon.

In Wyoming, according to America After 3PM data released by the Afterschool Alliance in 2009, 19 percent of school-age children are in afterschool programs, while 38 percent are unsupervised in the afternoons and another 15 percent are in the care of brothers and sisters. According to the survey, parents believe their children would benefit most from afterschool programs in the following ways: by receiving academic enrichment, having fun, improving their workforce skills and obtaining access to caring adults and mentors. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming provides world-class programming built around three core area outcomes – Academic Success, Character & Citizenship, and Healthy Lifestyles.

More information on Lights On Afterschool is available at www.afterschoolalliance.org. Programming and membership information for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming can be found at www.bgccw.com.