• The YMCA of San Francisco has a variety of programs for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Kids can get help with homework and participate in sports or arts & crafts activities. Other YMCA programs focus on teenagers, such as the Richmond branch's "Mighty Panthers After School Program." For details, visit the YMCA online and use the "branch locator" at the top left tto find the location nearest you. Click on the "child care" or "teen icons" to see listings for age-specific programs. Call (415) 777-9622 for more information.
  
  
• Besides being a quiet place where kids can read or do homework after school, the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) hosts a range of events and activities for both teenagers and younger children. You'll find everything from chess clubs to SAT prep courses. See the SFPL's schedule of children's events and offerings for young adults. Call (415) 557-4400 for details.
  
  
• If your teenager is looking for after-school work, consult the San Francisco Youth Commission's employment programs opportunities list. Here you'll find links to nonprofit organizations that can connect teenagers to various jobs and internships. You can reach the commission at (415) 554-6446.
  
  
• Located in San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts, the Exploratorium is "a collage of hundreds of science, art, and human perception exhibits. The Exploratorium is a leader in the movement to promote museums as educational centers." See their events calendar for various after-school programs or call EXP-LORE (415) 397-5673.
  
  
• The California Academy of the Sciences offers ongoing youth and adult courses. The academy also "provides paid internships for Bay Area teens to learn the processes and findings of the natural sciences, acquire skills and confidence through authentic work experiences in a respectful atmosphere, and set goals for educational and career paths." Call (415) 321-8000 for more information.