NAZA-Sponsored Programs


After School

NAZA-sponsored programs are at 26 MNPS middle schools. Enrollment forms for all NAZA-sponsored sites will be available in the office of participating schools on Aug. 5th.


  • Fall Semester: Aug. 26 through Dec. 12

  • Spring Semester: Jan. 7 through April 23

NAZA sites operate Monday through Thursday for two hours at the close of the school day. Research has shown that students receive the most benefit from the sites when they participate the full two hours. Additionally, students and families are asked to commit to attending the program for at least one semester.

A typical day at a NAZA site includes a snack followed by 45 minutes to an hour of engaging academic help, such as book club, STEM activities, homework help and writing activities. After academic time, students participate in 45 minutes to an hour of skill-building enrichment activities, such as dance, visual art, pottery, step, acting workshops, spoken word and sports activities. Many sites also offer transportation home.



SUMMER

Join Nashville’s Young Leaders at NAZA SummerZone’s Teen Explorers Camp!

Calling all 14- 16-year-olds! The NAZA SummerZone Teen Explorers Camp is the perfect place to be this summer. Why? You’ll spend your mornings working on a career exploration pathway that involves learning, inventing and creating, and reimagining in your field of choice – all designed to help you decide what you want to do after high school. And here’s the best part: You’ll get paid while trying new things and making new friends.

In the morning, you’ll get paid for what you make. You’ll choose from exciting career exploration pathways offered by the Academies of Nashville and Studio NPL (Nashville Public Library). There are four high school locations for our summer program, including Overton, McGavock, Whites Creek and Hunters Lane high schools. Each has different career exploration pathways to choose from. Possible pathways include digital art and design, hospitality and tourism, advertising, engineering, aviation, entrepreneurship, and much more. Each career pathway is a chance to create and develop a project where you get to discover new things, share ideas, work collaboratively, practice leadership skills, problem-solve, and develop innovative solutions to real-world questions and challenges. Each project is guided by an experienced professional from the Academies of Nashville or Studio NPL.

In the afternoon, there will be fun enrichment activities. Last year’s activities included painting, jewelry-making, bike-riding and repair, dance, soccer, science experiments, spoken word, music production, and much more. Plus, we’ll have college preparation and mentoring from our friends at the Oasis Center. Breakfast, lunch and transportation are provided to youth enrolled in MNPS schools during the regular school year.

PAYMENT

You will be paid $8/hour for morning experience work sessions (20 hours/week). You must attend the full program (8 a.m.–1 p.m. for the first week, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. for the rest of the program) to get paid. The program is open to youth ages 14–16.