Cambridge Afterschool
PBHA's Cambridge Afterschool Program (CASP) strives to close the gap in education in an underprivileged community through after school tutoring.
Staff Contact Information:
Bryan Zuluaga
Bryan@pbha.org
Student Director Contact Information:
CASP@pbha.org
PBHA's Cambridge After School Program (CASP) provides affordable and accessible after school programming for youth at the low-income Fresh Pond Apartments in northwest Cambridge. We serve approximately 30 students ages 8-14, most of whom are first- or second-generation immigrants. CASP offers academic programming in a combination of homework help (the first hour of the program) and educational workshops (the second hour of the program). Workshops range from building model rockets and water balloon slingshots to growing bean plants and making weekly library trips. We also run a variety of field trips including recent trips to a bookstore, the aquarium, and movie nights on the Harvard campus. The program runs Monday-Thursday from 3:30-5:30 pm.
For Families
"We are currently accepting students in grades 3 to 8. If you wish to enroll your child in CASP, please contact Scott, the Resident Services Coordinator, at scott.cole@schochet.com or the CASP directors at casp@pbha.org."
For Volunteers
Most CASP volunteers attend the program one afternoon a week, and they rotate in planning the daily workshops. Many volunteers also come on occasional Saturday field trips, where they can interact with the students and other volunteers in a non-academic setting. Recent favorite field trips have included apple picking, ice skating, and visiting the Harvard Art Museums. CASP works to foster a close community among tutors through volunteer training events, dinners, and volunteer appreciation nights.
Frequently Asked Questions for Volunteers
How much of a time commitment is CASP?
Most volunteers attend the program one afternoon a week from 3-6 p.m. However, a handful of volunteers attend twice per week. Either level of participation is encouraged! Volunteers are asked to commit to tutoring for an entire semester.
Will I be assigned a specific student to tutor? While there are no specific tutor assignments, many tutors work with the same group of students each week. When leading workshops, the tutors will work with all the students in attendance.
What makes CASP different from other PBHA afterschool programs?
Our medium size makes it very easy to get to know other volunteers, and we pride ourselves on the community we create among tutors. Additionally, our location is key. Working right in Cambridge means less time spent traveling and more time spent with the students. The close location also facilitates a deeper connection to the community.
What is the address of Fresh Pond Apartments? How do we get there?
364 Rindge Avenue Cambridge, MA 02140
Volunteers meet at the Harvard Square T station at 3 p.m., travel to the Alewife station, and walk about five minutes to the Fresh Pond Apartments.