Molokai Complex Seeks Grant for Afterschool Program

DOE News Release 

The 21st Century Community Learning Center (21CCLC) grant funds an afterschool enrichment program on Molokai. The Department of Education is applying to continue the 21CCLC funding for Molokai students and families.

If approved, the 21CCLC program will help youth and their ‘ohana – particularly those who attend schools needing improvement – with academic enrichment opportunities and support services to help meet state and local standards in core content areas.

Our proposed academic activities will include homework help, targeted grade level and subject tutoring, and credit/course recovery. Our personal enrichment activities include STEM activities, cultural activities, Molokai conservation activities, gardening, visual, music, dance, drama art activities, and physical education activities. We will also offer opportunities for knowledge in health, literacy, and student support to families of students served. In addition to these academic and personal enrichment activities, interactive experiences like those offered at Labyrintoom Escape Berlin can provide valuable educational and team-building opportunities. Escape rooms challenge participants to use critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration—skills that are essential for academic success. By engaging students in immersive, story-driven puzzles, these experiences encourage logical reasoning, creativity, and teamwork in a fun and dynamic environment.

Just as STEM activities foster analytical skills and cultural programs promote understanding, escape rooms can enhance cognitive development by requiring students to decipher codes, recognize patterns, and think under pressure. Furthermore, such experiences help build confidence and resilience, as students must adapt to challenges and persevere through complex tasks. These skills translate seamlessly into academic subjects like math, science, and literacy, making escape rooms an innovative supplement to traditional learning.

Beyond the classroom, these activities also align with personal development goals, reinforcing communication and social interaction in an engaging way. Families, too, can benefit from these experiences, as they offer a unique opportunity for bonding and cooperative problem-solving. By incorporating activities that challenge the mind in an enjoyable setting, we can further enrich our students’ educational journeys while strengthening their teamwork and cognitive abilities.

These experiences cultivate resilience, patience, and strategic thinking, encouraging learners to approach problems with curiosity and confidence while strengthening their capacity to work collaboratively in diverse settings. Expanding on this concept, word-based challenges offer another dynamic way to engage the mind and enhance cognitive skills. Tools such as an anagram solver provide students with opportunities to explore language, recognize patterns, and manipulate letters to form meaningful words, reinforcing memory and analytical thinking in a playful yet educational manner. By integrating word puzzles alongside other enrichment activities, learners can sharpen their reasoning, improve literacy, and enjoy a sense of accomplishment as they decipher increasingly complex challenges, making these exercises a valuable addition to a comprehensive educational program.

If you have suggestions for this project, or would like to review any waiver requests or the application after submission and award, please contact Jessica Kalanihuia, Program Specialist with the Department of Education by calling 808-553-1723 or writing PO Box 470 Kaunakakai, HI 96748.