Blog Archives

Mamma Mia, Here We Go Again on a Beyond School Bells Environmental Outing

Beyond School Bell’s Conservation Management Internship began in 2017 and has since been an opportunity for students to learn more about conservation by hearing from professionals in the field and by engaging in hands-on service learning from identifying plants, trees, and invasive species in places like Gjerlof Prairie and Glacier Creek Preserve to seeing how undergraduate students do research at UNL’s Cedar Point Research Station.

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Posted in Teen/Early Adulthood, Uncategorized

Building Back the Love: Beyond School Bells and NGR Partner in Literacy Projects

A partnership between Nebraska Children and Families Foundation’s Beyond School Bells (BSB), Nebraska Growing Readers (NGR), Unite for Literacy, and Linked to Literacy funds literacy efforts. In March of this year, by offering grants of up to $2,500 for literacy projects connected to summer programming, Beyond School Bells implemented what Education Commisioner Brian Maher described as the Department of Education’s vision of fostering “a culture of proficient and lifelong readers in Nebraska.”

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Posted in Early Childhood, Middle Childhood

Innovation Invitational 2025: Innovating Amidst Uncertainty

Group of BSB Youth Leadership Council Panel share their experience with conference attendees.

The Beyond School Bells Innovation Invitational focused on empowering youth through purpose-driven afterschool programs. Key discussions addressed the challenges youth face, emphasizing belonging, engagement, and community. Experts encouraged educators to foster resilience and growth, while innovative initiatives aim to enhance Nebraska’s Expanded Learning Opportunities, ultimately inspiring young leaders and shaping future educational experiences.

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Posted in Middle Childhood, News and Events, Uncategorized

Engineering Pathway Project: Inspiring Youth STEM Leaders in Nebraska

The Engineering Pathway Program in Nebraska ignites student interest in STEM fields through hands-on projects and mentorship. Launched by Beyond School Bells and the Peter Kiewit Foundation, it fosters interconnected learning from elementary to high school, highlighting girls, rural youth, and underserved communities, while nurturing future engineers and leaders like mentee Britney Alarcon-Panzi.

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Posted in Middle Childhood, Teen/Early Adulthood, Uncategorized

How ESSER III Funding is Supporting Nebraska Students Through Expanded Learning Opportunities

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to education, with students across the country experiencing disruptions that have left many grappling with unfinished learning. To address these challenges, the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 established the Elementary and Secondary

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Posted in Middle Childhood, Teen/Early Adulthood, Uncategorized

Community Building through Career Exploration in Cozad, Nebraska’s Summer Learning Program

Driven by a mission to create positive change for Nebraska’s children, Beyond School Bells focuses on providing K-12 students with high-quality expanded learning opportunities (ELOs) that promote hands-on, engaged learning. The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) and Beyond School Bells

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Posted in Middle Childhood, Teen/Early Adulthood, Uncategorized

Building Community in the Heart of Cherry County: Expanded Learning Opportunities in Valentine, Nebraska

Driven by a mission to create positive change for Nebraska’s children, Beyond School Bells focuses on providing K-12 students with high-quality expanded learning opportunities (ELOs) that promote hands-on, engaged learning. The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) and Beyond School Bells

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Posted in Middle Childhood, Teen/Early Adulthood, Uncategorized

Beyond the Classroom: Transforming Learning with Real-World Skills in Mitchell, Nebraska

Driven by a mission to create positive change for Nebraska’s children, Beyond School Bells (an initiative of Nebraska Children and Families Foundation) focuses on providing K-12 students with high-quality expanded learning opportunities (ELOs) that promote hands-on, engaged learning. The Nebraska

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Posted in Middle Childhood, Teen/Early Adulthood, Uncategorized

From Lincoln to Valentine, Youth Voice Shapes Local Afterschool Programs in Nebraska

The Beyond School Bells (BSB) Youth Leadership Council (YLC) in Nebraska empowers high school students to make a difference in their afterschool programs. The council creates and proposes projects to enhance afterschool activities and address unmet needs.

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Posted in Middle Childhood, News and Events

Finding Voice in the Stars: Caitlynn’s Journey of STEM Empowerment

This is a story of empowerment. Learn how STEM and afterschool programming impacted the life of a Lincoln teen.

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Posted in Middle Childhood, Teen/Early Adulthood, Uncategorized
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