ACADEMIC SUCCESS

Power Hour (Ages 6-18)

PowerHour: Making Minutes Count helps Club members ages 6-18 achieve academic success by providing homework help, tutoring, and high-yield learning activities and encouraging members to become self-directed learners. The program includes; homework helpers, tutors, homework supplies, and a chart for tracking and rewarding participants’ progress.

Summer Brain Gain (Ages 6-18)

Summer Brain Gain, a foundational program in the Education Core Program Area, is designed to prevent summer learning loss. Unless young people practice academic skills over the summer, they will lose an average of two months’ worth of math skills. Youth from low-income families also lose an average of two months’ worth of reading skills. Summer learning loss stacks up from year to year, broadening the achievement gap between lower- and higher-income youth. The achievement gap between youth of different socioeconomic levels has nothing to do with student motivation or ability. It has everything to do with access to enriching learning experiences.

Ultimate STEM (Ages 6-18)

Using a cross-disciplinary approach that channels young people’s natural curiosity, the Club’s Ultimate STEM program empowers youth to create solutions to real-world challenges. The program will be conducted 2-3 times a week Monday-Friday after school and during Summer Camp at three Clubhouses in Temecula, Murrieta and Lake Elsinore. Activities like, Lego robotics, magnetic slime, homemade catapults, hot ice, edible science, digital literacy and cool chemistry, will inspire and motivate youth and prepare them for the workforce.

Money Matters (Ages 13-18)

Money Matters promotes financial responsibility and independence among Club members ages 13-18 by building their basic money management skills. Participants learn how to manage a checking account, budget, save and invest. They also learn about starting small businesses and paying for college.

The Arts (Ages 6-18)

Boys & Girls Clubs of America is committed to providing programs, experiences and initiatives that allow all youth to access imagination and creativity to express themselves and build connection with others in their community. The Club is unique and no two art program will be the same. 

IMAGEMAKERS/National Photography Program (Ages 6-18)

The National Photography Program is designed to help members go beyond snapshots and develop skills to take photographs that can really impact the viewer. The current popularity and accessibility of photography makes it a powerful means to engage youth of all ages in creative programming, while simultaneously teaching them skills they will use for the rest of their lives. For some youth, photography opens a door to creative self-expression that no other art form allows. Others may discover a career path.

GOOD CHARACTER & CITIZENSHIP

Torch Club (Ages 10-13)

Torch Clubs are chartered small group leadership and service clubs for boys and girls ages 10-13. A Torch Club is a powerful vehicle through which Club staff can help meet the special character development needs of younger adolescents at a critical stage in their development. Torch Club members learn to elect officers and work together to implement activities in four areas: service to Club and community, education, health and fitness and social recreation. 

Be a STAR Bullying Prevention (Ages 11-13)

BGCA has joined WWE and the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence to participate in Be A STAR, WWE’s bullying prevention initiative, and its mission to encourage young people to treat each other with respect through education and grassroots initiatives. The Be A STAR program, focused on social and emotional learning, gives Club members ages 11-13 the tools they need to enhance their learning, decision making, creativity, relationships and mental health. 

Junior Leaders (Ages 13-18)

Junior Leaders is an easy-to-use program for Club teens ages 13 to 18. This program will provide your Club staff and volunteers with tools to guide young people in preparing for a career in Boys & Girls Clubs and/or other service professions. Through participation in Junior Leaders, teens will develop interpersonal skills, a strong work ethic and a sense of community engagement while experiencing on-the-job Club work.

Youth of the Year and Junior Youth of the Year (Ages 9-18)

Since 1947, Youth of the Year has been Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier recognition program, celebrating the extraordinary achievements of Club members. Each year, one exceptional young person from a Boys & Girls Club rises to the role of National Youth of the Year. The National Youth of the Year serves as both an exemplary ambassador for Boys & Girls Club youth and as a strong voice for all of our nation’s young people. The journey to being named National Youth of the Year begins locally and progresses to state, regional and national levels, with an additional military phase for members of BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations.

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

SMART Girls (Ages 8-18)

SMART Girls is a small-group health, fitness, prevention/education and self-esteem enhancement program designed to meet the developmental needs of girls in three age groups. Through dynamic sessions, highly participatory activities, field trips and mentoring opportunities with adult women, Club girls explore their own and societal attitudes and values as they build skills for eating right, staying physically fit, getting good health care and developing positive relationships with peers and adults.

Healthy Habits (Ages 6-18)

The Healthy Habits curricula focuses on making choices that support a healthy eating pattern and physical wellness. This targeted program is made up of interactive practical activities that develop a young person's ability, confidence and motivation to eat healthy for life.