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PROGRAMS
Power Hour | Torch Clubs |
Keystone Clubs | College Tour | The Arts |
Club Tech | SMART Moves | CareerLaunch
POWER HOUR: Making Minutes Count
Sharpen your pencils and get ready for the revamped Power Hour: Making Minutes Count. The program provides Club professionals with strategies, activities, resources and information to create an engaging homework help and tutoring program that encourages Club members ages 6-12 and 13-18 to become self-directed learners. The JCPenney Afterschool Fund sponsors Power Hour: Making Minutes Count. Although, 70% of the youth who participate in this program are at risk and come from low-income families 70% make the honor roll.
Torch Clubs
Torch Clubs are charter small-group leadership and service clubs for boys and girls ages 6-13. 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. The Staples National Torch Club Awards are presented annually to Torch Clubs with outstanding program and activities in the four areas. Each year, Torch Club members from all over the country take part in a service-learning experience through the National Torch Club Project. This program ensures 100% of our youth participate in community service.
Keystone Clubs
Keystoning is the Boys & Girls Club Movement's most dynamic teen program. Keystone Clubs are chartered leadership and service clubs for boys and girls ages 14-18. Keystoners elect officers and implement activities in six areas: service to Club and community, character and leadership development, education and career exploration, unity, free enterprise and social recreation. Keystone Club members and their advisors can be nominated to steering committees that organize regional and national Keystone Conferences attended by thousands of Keystoners each year. Keystone Club Awards are bestowed annually on Keystone Clubs that implement programs and activities that best promote the Keystoning principles. Each year, Keystoners develop a National Keystone Project. The combined action of hundreds of local Keystone Clubs results in a service project with a national scope. Taco Bell Foundation sponsors the national Keystone Club program as part of the multi-year teen initiative, a strategic partnership between the foundation and BGCA that equips Clubs with the tools and resources to create a positive place for teens as well as for kids. This program ensures 100% of our teens participate in community service.
College Tour
This program allows Jr. High & High School club members the opportunity to visit colleges throughout the state of California.
The goal of this program is to encourage members to pursue post high school education.
Colleges visited to date are:
- Sacramento State University
- Solano Community College
- UC Berkley
- UC Santa Cruz
- California State University Monterey Bay
This year we have plans to attend:
- UCLA
- Pepperdine University
- Stanford University
100% of the seniors participating in our college tour have gone on to college!
The Arts
Programs in this area enable youth to develop their creativity and cultural awareness through knowledge and appreciation of the visual arts, crafts, performing arts and creative writing. To date our club members have attended The Nutcracker Ballet and have attended the Beauty & the Beast play and participated in numerous art projects. This year we will attend local operas and visit several historical museums. Our goal is that all of our youth explore their creative talents and are culturally competent.
Club Tech
Computers and the Internet have dramatically changed the way people live, work and play. Both have made access to information faster, easier and less expensive - but only for those who can take advantage of these powerful tools. Millions of America's at-risk, disadvantaged youth are in danger of becoming victims of the "digital divide." These youth are at a disadvantage in the classroom, in the job market and are ill-equipped to take their place as productive members of society. The objective of the plan called for the elimination of the gap between the digital "haves" and "have-nots." Thus, the finished product would have to be developed with this simple vision: create digital opportunities for Boys & Girls Club members, and by extension, for hundreds of other young people. Community supports arose to the challenge. For the centennial Project of the Vacaville Rotary Clubs invested 50k to build computer labs at all three club sites. With the addition of software from Microsoft our club has state of the art equipment. Currently education software is being used to support the academic program in which 70% make the honor roll.
SMART Moves (Skills Mastery and Resistance Training)
This nationally acclaimed comprehensive prevention program helps young people resist alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, as well as premature sexual activity. The program features engaging, interactive small group activities designed to increase participants' peer support, enhance their life skills, build their resiliency and strengthen their leadership skills. This year-round program encourages collaborations among Club staff, youth, parents and representatives from other community organizations. The program's components include: SMART Kids, for children ages 6-9, Start SMART, for youth ages 10-12, Stay SMART, for youth ages 13-15 and SMART Parents, for parents of Club members participating in SMART Moves. The recent updating and revision of SMART Moves was made possible through funding from the DeWitt Wallace - Reader's Digest Fund.
100% of our youth who have participated in this program show an increase in knowledge of the dangers of drugs & alcohol.
CareerLaunch
CareerLaunch encourages Club members to assess their skills and interests, explore careers, make sound educational decisions and prepare to enter our nations's ever-changing work force. Club staff volunteers can use the Career Exploration Quick Reference Guide to work with teens individually or in small groups to build their job-search skills and job readiness. CareerLaunch Teen Tips is an easy-to-read pocket-sized booklet for teens full of practical job-hunting advice that comes with an attractive portfolio for storing resumes, job applications and other job-hunting documents. Of the youth participating in this program 60% have received jobs and are still employed.
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