Education & Career Development
Programs in this core area enable youth to become proficient in basic educational disciplines, set goals, explore careers opportunities, prepare for employment, and embrace technology to achieve success in a career. Our Club is dedicated to helping members improve their study habits, complete their homework and make good life choices.
The Power Hour program offers members homework help and tutoring after school.
Our Power Prep program provides a more focused one on one tutoring experience for those children who need additional help. This tutoring is provided by both Club staff and adult volunteer tutors and covers whatever subject is needed during each session.
The Project Learn program reinforces and enhances the skills and knowledge young people learn at school during the hours that they spend at the Club. Studies show that students do much better in school when they spend their non-school hours engaged in fun, educational activities. Our Club Program Director and staff create these high yield learning activities, which include STEM activities, leisurely reading, writing activities, electronic activities or games of strategy or role playing, board games like monopoly, discussions with knowledgeable adults and other high yield activities. These are all provided while emphasizing parent involvement and collaboration with school district professionals, so we can provide the best after-school learning environment possible for Club members ages 6-18.
Career Launch encourages Club members to assess their skills and interests, explore careers, make sound educational decisions, and prepare to join our nation’s ever-changing work force. Club staff work with teens individually or in small groups to build their job-search skills and job readiness.
Diplomas2Degrees (d2D), a college readiness program, guides Club members as they work toward high school graduation and prepare for post-secondary education and career success. d2D helps teens develop both short- and long-term, secondary educational goals.
Money Matters promotes financial responsibility and independence among Club members by building their basic money management skills. Participants learn how to manage a checking account, budget, save and invest and learn about paying for college.
Character & Leadership Development:
These programs help youth become responsible, caring citizens and acquire skills to participate in the democratic process. Program participants also develop leadership skills and gain opportunities for planning, decision-making, contributing to Club and community and celebrating our individual and national heritage.
Programs like Keystone Club for teen youth ages 14-18. This unique program provides leadership development opportunities for youth to participate in activities both in and out of the Club, in three focus areas: academic success, career preparation and community service. With the guidance of an adult advisor, Keystone Club aims to positively impact teens, their Club and our local community!
Torch Club is a chartered, small-group leadership and service group for boys and girls ages 11 to 13. The Torch Club is a powerful vehicle that helps Club staff meet the special character development needs of younger adolescents at a critical stage in their life.
Million Members, Million Hours of Service initiative aims to engage all Club member youth in service projects each year, with each donating at least one hour of service, so they can maintain positive relationships with adults within our community.
Health & Life Skills
These initiatives help youth achieve and maintain healthy, active lifestyles. These programs encourage young people to engage in positive behaviors that nurture their own well-being and set personal goals for the future. Members participate in programs that reinforce healthy living such as SMART Moves, a drug, alcohol, and tobacco prevention program, gender-specific programming, pregnancy prevention programs, & diversity education.
Passport to Manhood, Smart Moves which includes Smart Kids, Street Smart, & Smart Girls focus on building self-esteem & character, staying away from drugs, alcohol, gangs & premature sexual activity, develop positive social skills, including positive conflict resolution skills, problem solving, decision making, stress reducing techniques and ways to resist peer and media pressures to grow healthy attitudes and lifestyles. Good nutrition, regular physical activity and improved overall well-being are also emphasized.
Sports, Fitness, & Recreation
These Club programs help develop physical fitness, reduce stress, and promote a positive use of leisure time, appreciation for the environment and interpersonal skills.
Triple Play is a comprehensive health and wellness program that strives to improve overall health of Club members, increase daily physical activity, teaching them about good sportsmanship, teamwork, fair play, good nutrition, and building healthy relationships including positive conflict resolution skills.
The Arts
The Arts program helps give kids a voice through the arts by fostering creativity in young people and gives them outlets for self-expression. We use arts and crafts to create individual and group projects like painting and drawing, talent shows including music, singing or dance and photography.
Technology
Our Technology programs help develop young people’s technical skills to provide them with a competitive edge among their peers and prepare them for future success. All members complete an internet safety program annually, in which they learn the responsible use of technology and avoiding online risks.
These programs are continuing to expand and include project-based learning techniques to better equip Club members with skills for the 21st-century workplace. Members can build their proficiency to levels that affords them the chance to serve as tutors for other members.
Special events that include screenings, health presentations, and financial literacy conferences are another key component of this program area.
