In April, BRDC applied as the co-applicant with Grayson County Public Schools for the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant to provide hands-on, experiential programs to the students of Fries School and Independence Elementary School. We were notified in late August that we had received this grant and will happily be working with the Grayson County Public School system!

Community learning centers operate before and after school, during school breaks, Saturdays, and during summer vacation to provide educational services for families of participating children. Blue Ridge Discovery Center will be working with Fries School and Independence Elementary School providing enrichment activities after school three to four days a week, Saturdays, and during the summer. BRDC will be focused on science, nature, and life-long rewarding hobbies such as fly fishing,

With the COVID pandemic, both BRDC and school staff are working hard to provide these programs virtually and remotely until in-person is safely allowed. It is a difficult task but we are working together to make it happen for the youth of our communities.

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers program is authorized under Title IV, Part B, of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015. Funding is provided by the Virginia Department of Education.