Mission Statement
SoDakSACA History
Interest in forming an affiliate organization to the National School-Age Care Alliance (NSACA) grew, after a statewide conference on school-age care in 1998, sponsored by the state Child Care Services office. Many directors and staff also attended the national NSACA conference in San Antonio in 1999, and our goal became one of forming our own organization and becoming affiliated by the next NSACA conference in April 2000.
Our first official meeting was called to order in October, 1999, at the South Dakota Association for the Education of Young Children (SDAEYC) conference in Aberdeen, SD, with election of officers and board members, and the passage of by-laws.
In late October 1999, Sioux Falls was the site of the first SoDakSACA sponsored workshop. Jim “Mr. H-A-P-P-Y!!” Atkinson attracted approximately 90 new members.
SoDakSACA officially became a NSACA, now known as NAA (National Afterschool Association), affiliate in March of 2000.
Since that time, SoDakSACA sponsors the SoDakSACA Conference annually in October, and also the Afterschool Day at the Capitol each year in January or early February at the State Capitol Rotunda. In recent years, SoDakSACA has co-sponsored the statewide Lights On Afterschool event. SoDakSACA began hosting the annual OST Directors’ Retreat in 2013 to continue this unique leadership training opportunity for directors, which was started by the Division of Child Care in 2004.
Upcoming Events
2025 SoDakSACA Annual Conference
Recent News
Class of 2025 Next Generation of Afterschool Leaders
The National AfterSchool Association (NAA) is proud to announce the Class of 2025 Next Generation of Afterschool Leaders! This award recognizes young leaders in the out-of-school time field who have a proven passion for the development of themselves and others and who...
South Dakota School Age Care Alliance
"Out of School Time" in South Dakota!
SoDakSACA voted to endorse the NAA Core Competencies
Apply to Join the First-Ever OST Family Engagement Champions Cohort.
You feel it every day—the desire to do more for the families you serve. You see the parents who want to connect but can’t. You witness the missed moments, the cultural gaps, the unspoken needs. And deep down, you know: we can do better. OST professionals like you deserve the time, tools, and support to fix that.
What You’ll Receive:
Hands-on tools, strategies, and coaching rooted in real OST practice
Practical strategies that actually work in real-world OST settings
A professional learning community that lifts you up
Coaching and tools to help you move from parent involvement to parent engagement
A strong learning community that supports and stretches you
Recognition as a 2025–26 Family Engagement Champion
💥 BONUS: Meet attendance requirements and earn free registration to the 2026 SoDakSACA Leadership Retreat!
PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE: Face to Face Kickoff: October 23 (Spearfish), Virtual Sessions, November 19, January 21, February 18, March 18 and Graduation Celebration: April 9-11, 2026 (Keystone)
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If you haven’t listened to a ThirdSpace Collaborative podcast, here is the latest one.🎙️ New ThirdSpace Collaborative Podcast Episode!
Desi and Billy meet up with Lynne at the Washington Pavilion to dive into the Pomodoro Technique, the power of informal learning, and what makes summer programming so impactful. 🍅🎨🌞
Tune in for practical tips, real talk, and a fresh perspective on how time, space, and creativity shape learning beyond the classroom.
🎧 Listen now: mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/beby7adncct4c9xi/Lynne_Jones_Wash_Pavagvbc.mp3 ... See MoreSee Less
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Save the Date! October 23-25 Spearfish Holiday Inn
#sodaksaca
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