UCAP’s after-school program promotes positive social, emotional, cognitive, and academic development that reduces risky behaviors and promotes physical and mental health. We support and offer a safe space where youth can explore their potential.

Our program is “Active” because students are entering after a full day of regular school, which can mean they will be easily antsy, bored, and distracted. To ensure student engagement, the teaching must be active and involved; students should not be sitting in a room being lectured to when they have already endured a full day of schooling.

• We educate students on independent cleaning: cleaning shared spaces or items like tables,chairs, keyboards, and writing utensils.

• Discuss healthy behavior: washing hands, getting enough sleep and staying hydrated.

• Encouraging parents to keep sick children at home, to reduce the spread of germs.

• Wipe down the classroom with disinfectant at the end of the day. Don’t forget the doorknobs! ☺

• Safe spaces can be used to process all kinds of emotions.

• Our space incorporates items for children to use in all different types of activities.

• Comfortable space promotes self-discovery and exploration.

• Being in a relaxed mood makes the brain more strategic and allows you to process informationand pay attention.

• Organizing is not a talent, something you are born with, it’s a skill that can be taught.

• We teach kids how to organize, so they become more successful at home, in school, and in peer relationships.

• When everything is tidy and when you’re organized, you are less stressed.

• We use fun learning activities, which help in improving the self-confidence of students in several ways.

• Our fun learning activities help enhance mood and flexibility. When we are in a good mood, it enhances the value of perceived rewards associated with learning. This includes the gratification of gaining new knowledge and achieving milestones.

• Clear and consistent core values and group norms for guiding communication and behavior

• increasing self-esteem and self-efficacy

• natural motivation

• manage emotions

• Play is one of the most important aspects of a child’s life, because through play children learnto think creatively and interact socially.

• Through play, they develop physically and discover a slew of emotional skills, and they learn how to process the world.

• Play helps children grow into strong, healthy, and independent individuals. It also helps them develop emotionally and reduce stress. However, a lack of play can have negative and long-lasting effects.