Currently being run at 5 schools across Montgomery County and Baltimore City.

So What Else’s Olympiad program is designed to promote healthy activity and wellness in the lives of youth. The program provides students with access to fun fitness activities and games, in Olympic competition form, that keep them moving and engaged in physical activity for at least 60 minutes. These activities are set up as a series of team games, challenges and individual events.

Each class has a running theme of the day, which is reflected upon during the  activities. These themes teach the values of teamwork, integrity, inclusion, positivity and hard-work. These values are not only encouraged throughout the program but rewarded as well.  Fitness time is followed by a nourishing and healthy snack, fueling the students again after their exercise. Students are introduced to the concepts of nutrition and healthy living as well as new interesting topics and current events related to wellness and our bodies.

So What Else knows that kids are in the classroom all day with not much time, if any at all, dedicated to health and fitness. After school is the best time to provide kids with fun fitness activities because they have tons of stored up energy from being indoors all day. Our Olympiad program aims to heighten daily activity and exercise levels in youth which is essential to their health and combating childhood obesity. The program also promotes team building and gives students a chance to form new relationships with peers, allowing them to build social, character and leadership skills.

We’re seeking a donated or deeply discounted truck or van to aid us in our operations.

As our valued supporters know, our work providing extracurricular activities and leading community service projects takes us to many locations throughout the DC area.

We often have to rely on our staff to provide transportation of volunteers, bulky program materials, large quantities of food, and so on.

A vehicle devoted to our operations would be more efficient than using our staff members’ personal vehicles, decreasing the number of cars, the amount of time, and the amount of fuel necessary to transport materials. Our own vehicle will also build our capacity to deliver our students and volunteers the best experience possible. If you have any leads that will allow us to secure a vehicle within our budget, we are eager to pursue these. Please respond to info@sowhatelse.org, thank you!

Programming material donations wanted! So What Else seeks all sorts of materials to be used in our after school programs for under-served children, including school supplies, arts and crafts supplies, and new or gently used sporting equipment! A wide variety of materials will be accepted. We will be collecting during the Fallsgrove Community Halloween Parade, at 400 Casey Ln, Rockville, MD 20850 from 3pm to 6 pm on Friday, October 31. If you are unable to make this event but would like to donate, please respond to info@sowhatelse.org to make alternate arrangements.

As the weather grows colder, our concern for the well-being of our local homeless families grows, too.

To ensure a safe and happy season for homeless DC residents, So What Else is holding a clothing drive to benefit local nonprofit Miriam’s Kitchen.

We are looking for gently used SEASONAL MEN’S CLOTHING, including socks, long pants, large t-shirts, coats and other outerwear.

Please email sowhatelsehelps@gmail.com to request the address of a nearby clothing drop-off location.

We are excited to announce our participation in the launch of A Wider Circle’s job readiness program. A Wider Circle is an organization fighting to help end poverty in Washington DC Metropolitan Communities. So What Else believes that having access to job readiness resources plays a vital role in getting individuals up on their feet and back to being a productive member of society.

Bob Schless will be leading a class at the “Boot Camp” which is scheduled to start at the end of January. The class will cover resume building, interviewing techniques and the interview process.

So What Else is currently recruiting for instructors to lead our after-school programming for our Winter, Spring and Summer programming.

Our classes range from service learning, health and wellness, sports and recreation to arts and STEM. However if you are skilled in a specific area that you wold like to teach youth about, we welcome creativity and will work with you to build a quality 10 to 12 week program.

Our program sites are located throughout the Montgomery County, PG County, DC and MD communities We currently have Lead Youth Provider openings at Langley Elementary School in North East DC as well as multiple opportunities in Baltimore City.

Qualifications include: Experience working with youth, must pass background check, outgoing, flexible and positive.

Please email our Director of Programs Rachael Eichner at raeeichner@gmail.com to inquire.