Career Pathways
Afterschool and summer learning programs play a vital role in preparing young people for the jobs of tomorrow while supporting today’s working families. By providing safe, engaging learning environments during out-of-school hours, these programs help parents remain in the workforce and give youth meaningful opportunities to build essential skills for future success.
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Through dual credit and flexible learning opportunities, youth entrepreneurship, service learning, and partnerships with local businesses, out-of-school time programs connect learning to real-world experiences. These pathways expand career awareness, build workforce and leadership skills, and help young people envision a future where they can learn, work, and thrive in their own New Hampshire communities.
Dual Credit & Flexible Learning
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New Hampshire’s Learn Everywhere NH initiative allows students to earn high school credit outside of the traditional classroom, including through afterschool, community-based, and work-based learning experiences. OST programs can play an important role in supporting flexible learning pathways that recognize learning wherever it happens.
Youth Entrepreneurship
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Youth entrepreneurship is more than starting a business—it’s a mindset that builds creativity, problem-solving, confidence, and leadership. Through hands-on, real-world learning experiences, out-of-school time programs help young people develop essential workforce and social-emotional skills that support academic success, career exploration, and postsecondary pathways.
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NHAN supports youth entrepreneurship in OST by lifting up high-quality resources such as VentureLab and the Young Entrepreneur Institute, which provide tools, curricula, and approaches that strengthen program capacity, elevate youth voice, and encourage family and community engagement. These resources help programs integrate meaningful entrepreneurship experiences that connect learning to real-world application across New Hampshire.
Service Learning​
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​Service learning engages young people in identifying community needs—especially issues they care about—and taking meaningful action to address them. Through service learning, youth explore real-world challenges, build leadership and problem-solving skills, and strengthen their connection to their communities.
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With support from the National Youth Leadership Council, NHAN lifts up service learning as a high-quality approach that centers youth voice, promotes civic engagement, and connects learning to purpose and impact across New Hampshire.
How Local Businesses Can Get Involved?
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Offer mentorships or internships
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Host job-shadowing opportunities
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Promote youth volunteer positions
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Develop or support scholarships
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Partner with programs through enrichment clubs or projects
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Offer on-site field trips and workplace experiences
If you are a business and would like to be involved email stainter@seresc.net