Welcome to the Family Adventure Club, a new digital video series from WCTE PBS designed to bring curiosity, creativity, and joy back into learning. The early years are a critical time for learning and growth. By age 5, a child’s brain has grown to nearly 90% of its adult size, and everyday experiences like talking, reading, playing, creating, and exploring help build important connections.

Stream the videos with your kids, then keep the adventure going by trying the activities at home. Explore the episodes below and join the club!

Each episode invites families to explore a new topic through hands-on activities, playful experiments, and simple lessons kids can try at home. From balloon-powered motion and bridge building to geometry, bouncing, recipe reading, and animal observation, Family Adventure Club helps children build confidence as they discover how the world works.

Whether you are streaming together after school, looking for a weekend activity, or adding extra fun to learning at home, Family Adventure Club is here to help families learn, create, and explore together.

The early years are a critical time for learning and growth. By age 5, a child’s brain has grown to nearly 90% of its adult size, and everyday experiences like talking, reading, playing, creating, and exploring help build important connections.

That is why Family Adventure Club is designed to make learning feel joyful, approachable, and hands-on. Each video gives families a simple way to explore science, math, engineering, reading, creativity, and problem-solving together.

What is the program? The Empower UC program uses trained navigators to help families with educational and employment goals. They offer simplified services, milestone payments, financial aid, and community resources. Visit the Empower UC website (click here) and get started on your journey today. 

What is the goal? The Empower initiative aims to help 800 families and 1600 children in the Upper Cumberland region out of poverty by 2025.

How does Empower UC work? Empower UC focuses on serving the most vulnerable population in the 14-county Upper Cumberland region which includes Cannon, Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Van Buren, Warren, and White.  The program operates through eight hubs and utilizes Navigators to help families enroll, streamline services, and provide new resources, such as milestone payments for meeting goals, financial support to overcome obstacles, and access to community resources.

Who is Empower UC? The Empower UC partners include Circles USA, Cookeville Regional Medical Center Charitable Foundation, Highlands Economic Partnership, Tennessee Tech University, UCDD, UCHRA, Upper Cumberland Workforce, and WCTE Central TN PBS.

WCTE PBS is a member of Empower Upper Cumberland and a key partner in the mission to help families out of poverty.  

WCTE PBS’s role in the Empower initiative is to provide family workshops focused on early childhood education, using the evidence-based Ready-to-Learn curriculum. Our workshops aim to support the development of educational television and digital media for preschool and early elementary school children and their families, with a specific focus on promoting early learning and school readiness for low-income children. The RTL curriculum empowers and equips parents, caregivers, and communities to support children's learning and growth in these areas, ultimately leading to lifelong success.

Here are a few examples of the Family Engagement workshops from popular PBS KIDS shows that children already know and love. Click on the character below to learn more about the workshops and how your family can begin learning together.

Meet the WCTE PBS Team!

Dr. Cephas Ablakwa, WCTE's Director of Education and Engagement, will be responsible for overseeing the hiring and project management of the partnership. 

Vanestia Jennings, WCTE's Project Manager for Empower Upper Cumberland, will take on the role of overseeing all aspects of the program. This includes managing teachers, planning and attending engagement events, providing RTL content and materials, and serving as a liaison between WCTE and Empower UC. Additionally, she will work with Circles USA to coordinate and plan while collecting data and troubleshooting project-related issues. 

Cynthia Putman, Academic and Social Interventionist for Putnam County School System and a Ready to Learn Champion for Children, will utilize her expertise in the Ready to Learn curriculum to train teachers and ensure that the curriculum aligns with the needs of the participating families. She will also collaborate with the WCTE PBS project manager to develop the Family Creative Learning Workshop sessions. 
 

How can you help?

WCTE PBS is a non-profit organization that relies on local support to fund its programs. To aid WCTE PBS in its mission to inspire lifelong learning and give voice to Central Tennessee, you can contribute to the cause by becoming a member  with an annual or monthly gift, donating to the Education Endowment  fund, or considering a legacy donation. Every contribution, regardless of size, helps to further the organization's goals.

To learn more about Empower UC or to get involved, visit www.empoweruppercumberland.org or email connect@empoweruppercumberland.org to contact a member of the Empower UC team. 

PBS KIDS and the PBS KIDS Logo are trademarks owned by Public Broadcasting Service. Used with permission. 

This project is funded under a Grant Contract with the State of Tennessee Department of Human Services.