So What Else Inc

Play
We believe in the power of play and giving kids the chance to be kids. Play is infused into every moment at camp. Whether it's during a STEM lesson or during sports- we make sure our campers can find joy in all aspects of learning.

Create
Nurturing creativity allows the freest form of self-expression to take place. Through visual, written and performing arts we hope to inspire all of our campers to dive into themselves and create without boundaries or judgement. This philosophy helps to open up new ways of thinking for a child and nurtures their emotional health.

Learn
We strive to make learning, new concepts and revisiting familiar ones, a fun and engaging experience for youth. Campers are immersed in daily literacy and STEM activities, that are hands­-on, and encourage youth to collaborate with their peers to solve problems.

Service
Our motto has always been to pay-it-forward. That's why from day one- no child has had to pay to come to camp. Instead we instill our philosophy of philanthropy into our day to day camp life. Student's take part in community clean­ups and projects that give back - all in an effort to continue the cycle of service we started.

Outdoors
What is camp without the great outdoors? We take our campers outside and let them run, jump and explore with purpose. Sports, art, community service, yoga, journaling, nature walks and more­all take place outside in the fresh air.

So What Else offers an opportunity for undeserved youth to engage in holistic experiences in which they are exposed to new knowledge, skills and perspectives. Through quality mentorship and social and emotional supportive curriculum, we aid youth in becoming well rounded and engaged future citizens.
All our programming is free to students, families and host sites, across the Baltimore Washington Metropolitan Community.

Curriculum Spotlight:

Arts and Activism - The So What Else Art & Activism Curriculum is based on a service learning and young activists approach to visual and performing arts. Elements of service learning, environmentalism, music and literacy are consistently interwoven into this dynamic after-school program, teaching students the importance of creative expression and design in their lives and in their communities. Throughout the program students will be exposed to topics such as how art has played pivotal roles in various equal rights movements, how design can affect a community and how individuals can connect and create an impact with artistic design.

Youth Developmental Outcomes
• Youth will recognize the importance of personal reflection and be able to express these reflections through personal works of art.
• To discover a variety of inspirational sources for creating works of art.
• Youth will gain a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to creating a work of art.
• Allows youth to demonstrate ability to transfer artistic knowledge and skills into service based skills
• Youth will demonstrate the creativity, imaginative thinking and problem solving to create a unique work of art when given general parameters.

INTEGRATIVE WELLNESS- The So What Else Inc. Integrative Wellness Curriculum takes a comprehensive approach to teaching kids the importance of living their healthiest life. Our curriculum combines hands on cooking workshops, nutrition education, mindfulness practices, movement and fitness activities to engage students in new and creative ways to stay healthy. Throughout this course, students are exposed to topics such as healthy foods, sustainable diets, seasonal and local produce, health risks posed by processed foods and sugars, yoga and meditation, stress management and the importance of staying active. Service learning is also integrated into this program by researching and discussing openly the topics of food insecurity, food deserts, hunger and homelessness. Students participate in cooking a healthy meal or snack to donate to a nearby homeless shelter or to community members in need.

Youth Developmental Outcomes
• Youth learn how to make informed decisions regarding their own food and lifestyle choices.
• Through introspective practices and rituals youth become more self-aware and mindful of their bodies and health.
• Youth demonstrate ability to effectively identify, manage and express their emotions and feelings in a positive and appropriate manor.
• Youth develop skills and attitudes to make physical activity a habit.
• Youth build teamwork skills as they work with their peers to complete a project or recipe.
• Youth build health literacy skills and demonstrates ability to make informed decisions regarding their own food and lifestyle choices.

Mixed Programming - The So What Else Mixed Programming Curriculum is an integrative program based on Expressive Arts, Integrative Wellness, Environmental Stewardship and Service Learning. Students will take part in a variety of activities, and topics from stress management and cooking healthy foods to painting and environmental clean ups. Each program is guided by our So What Else “10 Pillars” which is our organization's core value set.

Youth Developmental Outcomes
• Youth will recognize the importance of personal reflection and be able to express these reflections through personal works of art.
• Youth will gain a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to creating a work of art.
• Youth will demonstrate the creativity, imaginative thinking and problem solving to create a unique work of art when given general parameters.
• Students will investigate the role of self-responsibility in health enhancing behaviors
• This activity encourages students to view their emotions objectively and assert control and awareness over their feelings and their actions
• Students will develop competencies in health literacy when choosing and making healthy food choices.
• Students investigate solutions to community health epidemics by learning to apply health literacy techniques into service-based projects.
• Student will demonstrate civic responsibility and investigate ways to contribute to local environmental stewardship efforts.

EXPRESSIVE ARTS- The So What Else Art Curriculum is based on a multidisciplinary approach to visual arts. Elements of service learning, environmentalism, music and literacy and are consistently interwoven into this dynamic after-school program, teaching students the importance creative expression in their everyday lives. Throughout the program students will be exposed to topics such as up-cycling, storytelling, goal setting, self-empowerment and more.
Service learning is integrated into this program by using art to creating gifts and cards to donate to children in the hospital or to people in shelters, by utilizing “trash-to-treasure” techniques to create artwork out of used materials and by using art skills to create gifts for those we appreciate in the community creating an opportunity for students to “pay-it-forward.”

Youth Developmental Outcomes
• Youth will recognize the importance of personal reflection and be able to express these reflections through personal works of art.
• To discover a variety of inspirational sources for creating works of art.
• Youth will gain a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to creating a work of art.
• Allows youth to demonstrate ability to transfer artistic knowledge and skills into service-based skills
• Youth will demonstrate the creativity, imaginative thinking and problem solving to create a unique work of art when given general parameters.

Arts and Activism - The So What Else Art & Activism Curriculum is based on a service learning and young activists approach to visual and performing arts. Elements of service learning, environmentalism, music and literacy are consistently interwoven into this dynamic after-school program, teaching students the importance of creative expression and design in their lives and in their communities. Throughout the program students will be exposed to topics such as how art has played pivotal roles in various equal rights movements, how design can affect a community and how individuals can connect and create an impact with artistic design.

The goal and mission of OGL is to promote ocean trash awareness, to learn about watersheds and inspire youth to be an advocate for responsible waste practices during lunch time and beyond.

Students immersed themselves in collaborating and creating "awareness art" that portrays their message of reducing waste and caring for our Earth. The art created is going to be molded onto a trash receptacle that OGL placed in the lunch room for use by the whole school. The receptacle will collect used things like used batteries, cellphones, plastic bottles and other types of recyclables.

OGL also completed two local trash pick ups along with trash analysis - where students organized and recorded findings on trash use, recycling and litter.



“Our theme at Operation Green Lunch is working together and choosing better, every day. Unless we all choose better and work together, we cannot reduce our negative impacts on the earth and in our community. ”

— Talia Ramey, So What Else OGL Lead Instructor

Working as a partner with local organizations, So What Else provides 100% free after school and summer programs to students from under-resourced communities.

The goal is to provide enriching experiences and the skills to succeed because where our youth reside should not dictate their quality of life or education.

How We Help:

• So What Else’s out of school time programs fill the gaps that are left by underfunded school systems providing lessons and activities that supplement, enrich and reinforce children’s learning in the classroom.

• We help children reach their greatest potentials through opening new pathways to learning. Students participate in lessons, activities and disciplines that they typically wouldn’t be exposed to. Supporting their development in becoming well rounded and engaged future citizens.

• 34% of children under 14 go unsupervised from the time the school bell rings, until their parents get home from work, So What Else provides a safe place for children to spend after school hours and fill that time with enriching programs such as Olympiad Sports, Expressive Arts and Integrative Wellness.

• So What Else’s volunteer branch promotes community engagement by connecting volunteers to participate in rewarding projects and initiatives in the DC metro area.

• Our students are encouraged to “Pay It Forward” by participating in service projects, allowing them to take pride in being able to give back to their community.

• So What Else hosts high school and college interns allowing budding youth advocates a chance to learn and grow alongside our children. Many of the interns are working to become the next generation of psychologists, educators and youth development professionals.

• So What Else’s chapter in Baltimore is the catalyst in joining together several community organizations. The summer camp alone brings our core services to children in desperately needed neighborhoods by providing programs to those who would otherwise not have access while school is not in session.

• We offer youth rich and rewarding out of school time programming, guided by our value system: "The Ten Pillars of So What Else.”
1. Teamwork and Sportsmanship
2. Non-violence
3. Youth Empowerment
4. Leave No Trace
5. Positivity
6. Creativity
7. Be True to Yourself
8. Civic Duty
9. Compassion
10. Constant Growth

So What Else is guided by our value system: "The Ten Pillars”

This is the basis of our work, outreach, and teaching - giving all who are part of our program the understanding of personal virtues.

The Ten Pillars are as follows:
1. Teamwork and Sportsmanship
2. Non-violence
3. Youth Empowerment
4. Leave No Trace
5. Positivity
6. Creativity
7. Be True to Yourself
8. Civic Duty
9. Compassion
10. Constant Growth

The So What Else Emergency Team is a group of community volunteers who are willing to assist during disaster events in Montgomery County.

We are an active communication chain that works together with the Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD).

The world is grappling with an issue of enormous scale and human impact. Our hearts go out to all who have been affected by the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19). So What Else is anticipating an increased need of support from the children and families we serve during this uncertain time. See how you can get involved in our efforts below.

By the end of 2020 So What Else was able to serve over 6.5 million meals to almost 100,000 people on a regular basis.