FAQ's for Providers
Frequently Asked Questions for Program Providers
What is BOSTONavigator?
Should my program be listed in BOSTONavigator?
What kinds of listings are not included in BOSTONavigator?
What's the difference between a "program" and an "opportunity"?
Why do I need to bother with entering opportunities after I've set up program records?
Why should I spend time listing my program's information here?
What if I already gave this information though another data collection?
What if I have questions or need help?
What is BOSTONavigator?
BOSTONavigator is an online directory of the most current information about Boston's out-of-school time
opportunities. Created through a collaboration of the City of Boston,
BOSTnet, and Boston After School & Beyond, BOSTONavigator is a valuable online resource for
children and youth, parents, guardians, and other caring adults to find youth programming in their
neighborhoods. Whatever your interests – sports, arts, academics, community service, the environment –
you can find out what opportunities are available for Boston youth.
Should my program be listed in BOSTONavigator?
YES – if you offer a program that fits the following criteria:
- located in the City of Boston;
- provides staff supervision for youth age 5 to 18; and
- operates during out-of-school time (including before school, after school, summers, weekends and school vacations).
What kinds of listings are not included in BOSTONavigator?
BOSTONavigator does not currently include the following:
- Hotlines and other information-only resources for youth, families and youth workers.
- Unstructured or unsupervised activities that youth or their families can participate in (for example, riding the swan boats in Boston Common).
- Facilities (such as playing fields, pools, etc.) that are available to children and youth.
To find out more about this type of information, visit our Resources page.
What's the difference between a "program" and an "opportunity"?
BOSTONavigator is organized to include Organization, Program, and Program Opportunity information organized as follows:
ORGANIZATION
PROGRAM 1
OPPORTUNITY 1
OPPORTUNITY 2, etc.
PROGRAM 2
OPPORTUNITY 1, etc.
An organization will create only one Program Record for each separate program it runs, whether the program is
offered only once, or in many different variations (e.g. at different locations across the city,
for different ages or for different times, classes or semesters). In BOSTNavigator, an
Organization sets up different OPPORTUNITIES for each of these different variations of a PROGRAM.
A Summer Program or Opportunity should have its own record separate from school-year records.
Why do I need to bother with entering opportunities after I've set up program records?
When Families and Youth search the database, it is the Opportunity information that is being searched.
If there is no Opportunity record – even if you have set up a program record – no one will ever see this
information. It is important that after you have set up information on a Program, you enter information
for the corresponding Opportunities.
Why should I spend time listing my program's information here?
BOSTONavigator is a searchable, comprehensive city-wide database.
- Participating in Navigator will allow you to market to youth and parents you may not otherwise be able to reach.
- BOSTONavigator is part of the Community Learning Initiative sponsored by Mayor Menino and the City of Boston.
- Program information included in BOSTONavigator will be used to inform funders on the status and availability of
OST programming in the city. Other directories and publications will be created using this information as well.
What if I already gave this information though another data collection?
If you already provided your information, you may be listed in BOSTONavigator. All you need to do is check
your listing for accuracy and keep it updated. You can search
BOSTONavigator. You will need a username and password to
log into the system if you need to add new information to your listing. (
If you lost your username or password or if you need a new one assigned, please contact us at
Help@bostonavigator.org or call 617-345-5322, x170.)
The information in BOSTONavigator is similar to information found in the Mayor's YouthLine,
BOSTnet's "Guide to Before and After School", and the Boston Youth Sports Directory.
However, this online collection was created through a compilation of these smaller directories
so all of their information would be integrated into a single, more complete online tool.
The organizations partnering on this project will not e asking you for duplicate information,
although they may remind you to update your listings within BOSTONavigator.
What if I have questions or need help?
We are here to help! If you have questions, please contact us at Help@bostonavigator.org or call 617-345-5322, x170.
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