From Yo-Yo to NYO: Inside an Afterschool Program’s Talent Show
A showcase of talents reveals how kids in an afterschool program are discovering who they are and who they hope to become.
What do Chinese yo-yo, Olaf from Frozen, K-Pop Demon Hunters, and Native Youth Olympics have in common? Each one played a role in a young person’s self-expression at a special afterschool family night talent show.
The Chinese yo-yo performer learned his talent in PE class five years ago and has now been practicing for half his young life. The fourth grader said he wants to be a professional yo-yo artist when he grows up, and this night was his first time showing his skills in front of an audience. He spun the yo-yo in silence, but each trick was rewarded with “oohs” and “ahhs.” His routine peaked with a toss of the yo-yo to the rafters. He caught it and calmly told the captivated crowd, “I’m done.” But we think he’s just getting started!
A fourth grader launches a Chinese yo-yo into the sky, performing his skill for the first time in front of an audience.
One of the more unexpected talents of the night was another fourth grader who shared his drawings of anime and Disney characters. According to his mom, it was a surprise entry as just the day before he said he wouldn’t be in the show, but that she was proud to see him displaying his talent. She said he draws everywhere, all the time, and he confidently showed off his art to the audience.
K-Pop Demon Hunters, somewhat surprisingly, only made one appearance. With a long ribbon and boundless energy, a second grader danced to “Soda Pop.” Before the show, we asked her what she was most excited about. She said, “dancing.” When asked why, she said, “because I’ve been dancing since I was a baby.” When we asked what she wants to be when she grows up, she said, “a dancer.” For her, dancing is the answer to every question.
A second grader performs a ribbon dance to “Soda Pop” from the movie K-Pop Demon Hunters.
Several more kids sang (from trending pop songs to one about being a pancake), danced (with more ribbons), and even performed a slow-motion Ninja fight (“You can laugh, it’s supposed to be funny,” announced one of the performers)—but the highlight of the show was a demonstration of Native Youth Olympic events from Quentin, a young program staff member.
He started by balancing his entire body on one hand while he touched a suspended ball with the other—the one-hand touch. Then he raised the ball almost twice his height.
“Do you think I’m going to reach it?” He asked the audience.
It was a near-unanimous shout of, “Nooo!”
A few seconds later, he leapt into the sky and kicked the ball with both feet. The kids nearly fell out of their chairs with excitement.
A program staff member jumps nearly the height of a basketball hoop while performing Native Youth Olympics events for the afterschool program talent show.
Afterwards, Quentin said he was so happy to be preforming these events for the kids. The Native Youth Olympics mean “more than the world” to him.
“It’s like my entire life,” he shared. “I feel like I found an identity through it. It makes me comfortable with who I am. I see others more clearly through it, and it just makes a lot of things better in my life.”
He’s an example of what the talent show was really all about. While these acts are brief displays of impressive talent, these kids have been dancing, drawing, singing, and yo-yoing for most of their lives. These performances not only represent who they are now, but who they hope to become. It’s how they are finding their place in the world.
It’s the Camp Fire Alaska mission in action, that every child will have the opportunity to discover the best in themselves and others in a fun, safe learning environment.
Camp Fire Alaska’s licensed afterschool programs provide youth fun and safe spaces to thrive during out-of-school time.
