Since students around the county are less than three weeks away from heading back to classrooms, the Elizabethton Housing and Development Agency is gearing up for its after school program.

EHDA Director Kelly Geagley is proud of the program’s mission, which is to facilitate an environment for children to learn and have fun.

Tutoring is a big aspect of the program, Geagley said.

“We provide tutoring and homework help,” he said. “Sometimes the older kids can come and help the younger kids with homework, too.”

Another benefit to joining the program is access to computers.

“Not all students have a computer,” Geagley said. “We do have the computer lab where the students can work on their homework.”

Students from city and county school systems are invited to come.

Geagley said there are shuttles available for children to get to the housing office after school.

“I just want our kids to have the same opportunities as other kids,” Geagley said. “We will always try to do something fun and eat something nutritious when they get home from school.”

Each day of the week has a specific theme associated with it. Monday and Friday are are game day, Tuesday is craft day, Wednesday is make-you-own-snack day and Thursday there is a cooking class.

The after school program begins at 3 p.m. daily.