Easy event idea: Host an open house for Lights On Afterschool

• Wasilla, Alaska: Youth 360 hosted a trunk-or-treat open house for the entire community. Youth led haunted tours throughout the building, and guests visited various themed rooms, including Cobweb Corridor, the Graveyard, Space Mission, Nightmare Before Christmas, and Skeleton Basketball. Outside, decorated cars lined the parking lot, filled with candy and treats in their trunks for participants.
• San Francisco, California: Bay Area Community Resources hosted its second annual “Shine Bright like a Beacon” festival. This open house featured various activities for students, families, and the community to enjoy, including lightning dodgeball, dancing with lights, a skateboard course, musical chairs, and glow-in-the-dark painting.
• Parker, Colorado: Cougar Club BASE hosted a fall-themed open house, allowing families to see what a typical afternoon is like for kids. Students and families enjoyed a range of activities, including gym games, arts and crafts, pumpkin painting, and a raffle to win a staff-painted pumpkin. Attendees dressed in blue and yellow to show their support for Lights On Afterschool and afterschool programs.

Here are some key tips to keep in mind when coordinating your open house:

• Start planning as early as possible!
• Create a media plan to effectively promote the event and encourage attendance
• Showcase youth projects or highlight unique activities that students engage in day-to-day
• Incorporate multiple hands-on activities for youth during the event
• Enlist afterschool students as event hosts to provide guided tours and facilitate meaningful interactions with attendees.
• Partner with community organizations to expand event promotion and outreach.