The Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation Award Grant to After School Program of International Wildlife Film Festival

“After-School Kids Club Safari Program”
Hopes to Inspire Interest in Science & Media

The Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation http://www.dpwfoundation.org/ has just awarded a grant to a new after-school children’s program of the International Wildlife Media Center http://www.wildlifefilms.org/ , Montana Film Academy, called the After-School Kids Club Safari.

The new program hopes to inspire in children, a strong interest in science and media but in a fun and exciting way. “It’s a new concept,” says Janet Rose, Executive Director of the IWMC and Festival Director of IWFF, adding, “though it’s not entirely new for us.” Rose says the after-school hours are among the most critical for children and challenging for families and for communities, and says after-school programming provides one of the most exciting opportunities to reach children with a dynamic learning experience.

“Nationwide,” says Rose, “After-School Programs are among the most critical, the most sought after and the most important for those groups that are interested in the welfare of children. We have analyzed our programs, our resources and our mission and an After-School Program for children and teens was an inevitable conclusion.”

The Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation, according to Rose, has long been interested in direct action programs for youth. The Missoula-based Foundation awarded the not for profit organization a $5,000 grant to support the new project, in particular for technology and resources that will help to make the Safari a unique program for children ages 7 and up. “This is our first ever daily after-school program,” says Rose, adding that it is an extension of what we have been doing in the schools and at the Media Center with middle and high school students for a number of years as well as through summer camp programs. “Our focus is on science, media and learning about the natural world in a hands-on way, with the added benefit of having award winning, age appropriate films and curriculum, for children and teens. Children not only watch special films, they learn how to make them, while also being engaged in other kinds of media arts and creativity.”

Education Coordinator Victoria Cruz says the organization is very grateful to the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation for its support of the After-School Kids Club Safari Program. “The Foundation’s recognition of the vital importance of After-School Programs for young people is incredible. For us,” says Ms. Cruz, “Reaching children and teens with exciting scientific and media programming in a fun and easy to understand way, as well as helping youth learn how to communicate their ideas about nature, through various media is a very dynamic and effective way to inspire learning.” The IWMC, Montana Film Academy currently offers the After-School Kids Club Safari daily at the Media Center, with transportation from the schools. The grant from the Washington Foundation is a one-year grant.