Registration for Our After School Program is OPEN!

The LIFRC is excited to kick off another year of our After-School Programs, crafted to infuse our young learners with a mix of curiosity, hands-on creativity, and love for this island we call home. With registration now open, we’re thrilled to welcome two wonderful new team members dedicated to enriching young lives on Lopez.

Meet the Team!

This year, Audrey Oswald joins us as Program Manager, and Jessica Houston as Lead Instructor for K-4’s “Camp Huckleberry.” Both have spent much time on Lopez with family and friends over the years and are now making the island their home. Together, they bring diverse skills and experience to our programs. Audrey comes with a background in communications and teaching and is currently pursuing a teaching certificate in earth sciences. Jessica has a background as a paralegal and has mentored many youth staff when she managed a restaurant on the East Coast. We’re delighted to welcome them both to our LIFRC family and the Lopez Island community!

Program Highlights

Partnering with local organizations to bring rich learning opportunities to the After School Program has always been at the heart of what we do.

This year we are excited to announce that our programs have a welcoming new space at the Lopez Island secondary school, allowing us to provide a comfortable and engaging environment for every student.

Our collaboration with the Lopez Island Library continues to bring literary activities for younger students every Tuesday.

Students grades 5-8 can join our ever popular Dungeons & Dragons Club, where they can dive into imaginative storytelling and teamwork.

The Youth Conservation Corps partnership returns, where students can engage in environmental stewardship on Tuesdays. They’ll help monitor the marble butterfly population, collect climate data, and maintain the Life Trail.

For middle schoolers, we’re launching a new Monday Skills Series, covering practical topics like public speaking, financial literacy, bike repair, and more. We can’t wait to see what additional topics youth and families suggest

To nurture creativity, we also plan to have regular music sessions and art projects led by guest instructors, such as the recent mask-making workshop with art educator Kathleen Briley. Students crafted Dia de los Muertos masks from paper mâché, and their creations will be showcased at the Voices and Visions Dia de los Muertos event on November 9th.

Thanks to the 21st Century Learning Grant, all these activities are available at no cost to local families. Whether your child attends LISD, another school, or is homeschooled, all K-8 Lopez youth are warmly invited to join. Let’s celebrate this vibrant community of young learners, artists, adventurers, and environmental stewards here on Lopez Island!

If you know a school-aged child in kindergarten through 8th grade, check the schedule by clicking here and register today!

Register TODAY!