Submitted by TOGETHER!
TOGETHER! and North Thurston Public Schools (NTPS) are proud to announce selection by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to receive a new 21st Century Community Learning Center multi-year grant to establish a Club House after school and summer enrichment program at Mountain View Elementary and continue to offer the same for the 12th year in a row at Lydia Hawk Elementary—all at no cost to students or families. Club House will also continue before school and in the summer at Chinook and Nisqually Middle Schools under a separate multi-year 21st Century grant.
TOGETHER!’s Club House program provides safe, welcoming, and culturally responsive learning spaces for students. The program emphasizes project-based learning, STEM and arts education, and bilingual programming in English and Spanish. It also integrates social-emotional learning, case management, and support for basic needs, creating a holistic, student-centered environment.
“We are thrilled to continue and expand our partnership with NTPS through this critical funding,” said Sierra Abrams, Co-Executive Director of TOGETHER! “Club House is more than an out of school time program—it’s a community hub that helps students grow academically, emotionally, and socially.”
Club House is offered from October through June, with intensive summer sessions, and will officially begin on October 6, 2025. The program is 100% free, includes transportation, and is staffed by a highly trained, often bilingual and bicultural, team of youth development professionals.
Why Club House?
Club House is unique in several ways, including in its offering of support for families. Through family engagement activities as well as help navigating basic needs like food, housing, utility bills, medical care, and more, Club House students and families receive in-depth support no matter the need. Club House is also unique in how much it centers student voice and engages students in making choices about their learning. In recent years, Club House students have elected to engage in climate justice, beach cleanups, cultural celebrations, music creation and showcases, and more. These opportunities build connection, foster a sense of pride, grow life skills, and contribute to academic gains.
“We believe every child deserves access to high-quality enrichment opportunities,” said NTPS Superintendent Troy Oliver. “We’re grateful for our ongoing collaboration with TOGETHER!, and excited to continue Club House at Lydia Hawk, Chinook, and Nisqually, as well as to expand Club House to Mountain View to serve more students and families in the year ahead.”
For over two decades, NTPS and TOGETHER! have collaborated to deliver Club House programming at half a dozen schools utilizing the invaluable support of OSPI’s 21st Century grant funding to enrich the lives of students, families, and our local communities together. Schools must meet academic and income criteria to be considered for funding.
How You Can Engage with Club House
Despite this new grant being a 5-year grant, the future of 21st Century Community Learning Center funding is uncertain. Please review Afterschool Alliance resources regarding 21st Century Community Learning Center funds here to stay connected to efforts to secure remaining years of multi-year 21st Century grant funds past this school year.
Further, this year’s new grant will be awarded at 90% of what was requested, leaving a larger gap to raise. Each year public funding like 21st CCLC is critical for operations, but does not fully cover the cost of running such a robust and comprehensive program. Community donations help fill this gap, ensuring the sustainability and reach of Club House.
- Donate today (monthly donations are especially impactful)
- Or mail your contribution to:
TOGETHER!
ATTN: Club House
1520 Irving St. SW, Ste. A
Tumwater, WA 98501
For more information about Club House programming, or for the 2025-2026 Club House application, please visit the TOGETHER! website.
About TOGETHER!
TOGETHER! is a nonprofit organization serving South Sound youth and families for over 35 years. TOGETHER! partners with schools, communities, and families to advance the health and wellbeing of young people through collaborative programs like Club House.
