Middle Earth partners with local schools to guide teens toward responsible adulthood. 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.

Middle Earth provides these school-based services to local youth:

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.

Career and College Readiness Program

The purpose of Middle Earth’s Career and College Readiness Program is to:

• keep youth engaged in school and improve academic performance so that they will graduate on time,
• 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, Bernards, 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 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 college applications.

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.

Middle Earth’s Career and College Readiness Program received funding from the Somerset County Board of Commissioners, The Hanafin Foundation, Dombel-Vogel, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, the Somerset County Community Development Block Grant program, which comes from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and an operating support grant from the Office of Faith Based Initiatives, a Division of Programs in the Department of State.