Program Impact
According to the TaxWatch study, there were no reported incidences of teenage pregnancy at Florida Boys & Girls Clubs compared to an average state rate of 4.5 briths per 1,000 for girls ages 15-19.
Fun
One of the most important principles of the Boys & Girls Club is having fun.
Along with personal relationships, fun activities bring young people into the Club and keep them coming back.
Fun is essentially the business of Boys & Girls Clubs.
Programs
Boys & Girls Clubs of America's national programs have taken members from the Clubhouse to the White House; from the games room to the corporate boardroom; from the high school orchestra to Carnegie Hall.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County has a lineup of tested and proven programs that address today's most pressing youth issues, teaching young people the skills they need to succeed in life.
Character & Leadership
Helping youth become responsible caring citizens and acquire skills for participating in the democratic process is the main thrust of these programs. They also develop leadership skills and provide opportunities for planning, decision-making, contributing to Club and community, and celebrating our national heritage.
KEYSTONE CLUBS are chartered small group leadership development clubs for young people ages 14-18. Keystoners elect officers, choose their own activities and plan and implement community service projects. A national charter entitles a Keystone Club to participate in regional and national Keystone conferences. The TEENSupreme Keystone Club program is sponsored by the Taco Bell Foundation.
Education & Career Development
PROJECT LEARN reinforces and enhances the skills and knowledge young people learn at school through "high-yield" learning activities at the Club and in the home. Based on Dr. Reginald Clark's research that shows fun, but academically beneficial activities increase academic performance, these activities include leisure reading, writing activities, homework help and games like Scrabble® which develop young people's cognitive skills. Project Learn emphasizes collaborations between Club staff, parents and school personnel. Formally evaluated by Columbia University, Project Learn has been proven to boost the academic performance of Club members.
Health & Life Skills
The SMART Moves (Skills Mastery and Resistance Training) prevention/education program addresses the problems of drug and alcohol use and premature sexual activity. Based on proven techniques, the program uses a team approach involving Club staff, peer leaders, parents and community representatives. More than simply emphasizing a "Say No" message, the program teaches young people ages 6-15 how to say no by involving them in discussion and role-playing, practicing resistance and refusal skills, developing assertiveness, strengthening decision-making skills and analyzing media and peer influence.
The ultimate goal: to promote abstinence from substance abuse and adolescent sexual involvement through the practice of responsible behavior.
Sports, Fitness & Recreation Triple Play
TRIPLE PLAY is a dynamic wellness program currently being offered in Boys & Girls Clubs that demonstrates how eating right, keeping fit and forming positive relationships add up to a healthy lifestyle. The goal of the Triple Play program is to improve Club members’ knowledge of healthy habits; increase the number of hours per day they participate in physical activities; and strengthen their ability to interact positively with others and engage in positive relationships.
Program components include:
- Healthy Habits Nutrition Curriculum
- Daily Challenges
- Sports Clubs
- Triple Play Games
- Social Recreation
The Arts
The Boys & Girls Clubs has Initiatives that help young people enhance self-expression and creativity, develop multicultural appreciation, provide exposure to and develop skills in crafts and visual, performing and literary arts.
