The SOAR Story
Beginning in 2013 as an initiative created in partnership with the Walton Family Foundation, Camp War Eagle, and Springdale Public Schools, SOAR, The Camp War Eagle Afterschool Program launched a pilot partnering with Jones Elementary School in downtown Springdale. The program operated at the one site location for two years before expanding to two additional locations at Parson Hills Elementary in Springdale and Grace Hill Elementary in Rogers with the securing of multiple 21st Century Community Learning Center grants. Before the existence of the three SOAR locations, each school had an afterschool offering that served less than 40 students in total between all sites; however, SOAR was able to serve an average of 300 students across all three locations after the program’s launch and subsequent expansion. In 2020, conversation with the Walton Family Foundation and Camp War Eagle created a path for SOAR to split from the Camp War Eagle organization to become incorporated as its own 501(c)3 organization as of that July, which has since become known as The SOAR Afterschool Program. The split occurred in order for SOAR to become more sustainable as a program and to have the option for further growth into the Northwest Arkansas community.
In 2022, SOAR was awarded two additional 21st Century Community Learning Center grants to support the launch of two additional programs at George and Bayyari Elementary in Springdale. From the programs first launch in 2013, SOAR now serves an average of 550 students per day across five locations in Northwest Arkansas with a free, high-quality afterschool program. The SOAR team has since expanded from a small team of four to a now full time team of 10 staff members dedicated to impacting and improving the community of NWA by developing its next generation of leaders.
If you are interested in learning more, email Ellery Bacon at ellery@soarafterschool.com with your interest and recume.
