After School Program
Ames After Hours
Ames After Hours is an onsite, year-round, out-of-school time youth development program provided at no cost to youth (K-5th grade) living at Ames Lake Neighborhood, an affordable housing complex on St. Paul's Eastside.
Ames After Hours provides structured learning opportunities for youth to obtain personal, social, academic and citizenship competencies necessary to become thriving individuals and constructive community members.
After-school activities are based on Opportunity Neighborhood's 5 S's of Healthy Youth Development: Study, Service, Skill, Social, and Scouts. The program is available during the school year, four days a week, between 3-5:30 p.m. in the Ames Lake Community Center.
Ames Teen Group
The Ames Teen Group meets at the same time as Ames After Hours and also provides activities based on Opportunity Neighborhood's 5 S's of Healthy Youth Development. However, activities and topics are centered on mentorship, leadership and youth voice. As an integral part of program planning, teens’ ideas and interests guide the program in creating valuable engagement opportunities. There is also a teen planned monthly Ames Teen Group Night in which participating teens gather for a fun activity of their choice from 6-8:00 pm.
Summer Program
Ames Lake Summer Camp
Ames Lake Summer Camp is a 9-week no-cost summer day camp for resident youth entering 1st-6th grade. Planned activities include a literacy program, picnics and swimming at local beaches/pools, sporting events, arts and crafts, team building activities, performing arts, and field trips.
Teens who participated in Ames Teen Group have the opportunity to apply for paid Summer Camp Intern positions giving them an opportunity to gain leadership and job skills while having the chance to be involved in summer programming.