Middle Earth partners with local schools to guide youth toward responsible adulthood. We offer five programs within local school districts:

• 21st CCLC – afterschool program for 3rd-8th graders,
• CCRP – college preparedness for high school students,
• Connections – mental health groups for middle schoolers,
• The Yellow Tulip Project, a mental health advocacy group for high school students, and
• Mentoring (visit our Mentoring page to learn more about this program)

Explanations of each program follow:

21st Century Community Learning Center

The 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) is a comprehensive afterschool program, which supports students’ academic, behavioral, emotional and social growth in an atmosphere of mutual respect and encouragement. The program serves students in 3rd through 8th grades at Smalley school in Bound Brook, 3rd and 4th grades at Roosevelt school in Manville, and 5th through 8th grades at ABIS in Manville. A summer program is also provided. You can email our programs at either smalley21stcclc@middleearthnj.org or roosevelt21stcclc@middleearthnj.org if you have more questions.

The program provides students with:

• academic enrichment and tutoring,
• character education,
• cultural and artistic opportunities (such as art, computer technology, science, home economics, and music),
• educational field trips (such as museums, science centers, performing arts centers, and local historical sites),
• health, nutrition, fitness and physical activity,
• on-site counseling, and
• positive recreation.

Research and studies say that children who participate in structured afterschool programs are more likely to:

• improve their grades,
• behave in school,
• develop better social skills,
• refuse alcohol and drugs,
• have higher self-confidence,
• avoid criminal or risky behavior, and
• have higher aspirations for their future.

Youth Career and College Readiness Program (YCCRP)

Middle Earth’s Youth Career and College Readiness Program prepares students in Manville and Bound Brook schools for a bright future by exploring a wide range of career options and guiding them through the process to make their college or career aspirations a reality! The purpose of the program is to:

• keep youth engaged in school and improve academic performance so that they will graduate on time,
• explore a wide range of career options and determine the appropriate avenues for achieving their field of interest,
• improve students’ extracurricular resume by offering community service opportunities, and
• teach youth how to make post-secondary education a reality.

The program provides students in Bound Brook and Manville schools with the following services:

• weekly workshops on: goal setting; the importance of grades, extracurricular activities, and community service; post-secondary options; ways to pay for college; college and financial aid application process; college life; and stress management, coping skills & journaling.
• career exploration;
• tutoring and preparation for PSAT, SAT and ACT;
• college and trade school visits;
• college and career fairs;
• one-on-one services to youth who are identified as experiencing difficult situations in school or at home;
• meetings to educate parents; and
• community service to include on applications and resumes.

This program also has a summer component for students including community service, employment readiness, and character education groups.

This has been a very successful program. In the last few years, 100% of participating high school seniors have graduated on time and over 95% have enrolled in a college or university for the Fall.

The Youth Career and College Readiness Program received funding from the Dombal-Vogel Foundation and an operating support grant from the Office of Faith Based Initiatives, a Division of Programs in the Department of State.

Connections Program

The Connections Program serves 5th through 8th grade students in the Manville and Bound Brook school districts by providing support groups in school to address mental health and develop social-emotional learning. Summer programming is also available for youth identified as needing additional service.

Schools can refer youth individually to a specific group, allow groups to take place in full classrooms, or have a combination of the two. There will be various groups available that the school can choose from as options for their youth. 

The program is designed to:

• increase access to mental health groups and services to middle school students
• empower youth to deal more effectively with mental health issues
• foster well-being
• teach positive coping and emotional regulation skills
• prevent risky behaviors
• remove barriers to student success in school
• combat stigma surrounding mental health

The Connections Program is fully funded by the Somerset County Board of Commissioners.

The Yellow Tulip Project (YTP)

The mission of The Yellow Tulip Project is to smash stigma associated with mental illness and to build community to remind people that there is help and hope for those living with mental illness. We work to increase high school student awareness of mental health issues and empower them to educate their peers and community.

YTP brings students together to plant a HOPE Garden, build community, talk about mental health, and destigmatize mental illness in hopes of increasing the overall mental wellness of the school’s student body and school community, developing social-emotional learning, and creating hopeful and safe places to address mental wellness. Focused groups will be offered to students in YTP along with mental health workshops. There is also an opportunity for students to become Ambassadors, who are empowered to engage their schools and communities to smash the stigma associated with mental health. YTP meets year-round to continue their work on mental health issues. 

The program is designed to:

• increase high school student awareness of mental health issues
• empower youth to educate their peers and community
• combat stigma surrounding mental health
• create safe, hopeful places to discuss mental health
• teach positive coping and emotional regulation skills
• improve overall mental wellness of the school student body and community

The Yellow Tulip Project is fully funded by the Somerset County Board of Commissioners.