Program Descriptions

Programs are created in an academic environment and field tested before implementation to ensure meeting the highest quality standards. Community partners assist with curriculum development and delivery.  Youth input is solicited when curriculum is designed. 

Ongoing relationships with caring, adult professionals, life-enhancing programs, character building experiences, and opportunities for personal development assist youth in building: a sense of competence, a sense of usefulness, a sense of belonging, and a sense of influence. Following are a portion of the programs we offer:  

Arts and Crafts

Art Classes – Staff and volunteer artists offer instruction in various arts and crafts.  Members also participate in national photography and art contests.  Focus is on drawing, painting in a variety of mediums, collages, ceramics, and sculpture.  Members display their work monthly within the Clubs and at community shows. 

Craft Classes –   Staff and volunteers offer instruction in a variety of crafts, including paper crafts, soft sculpture, jewelry construction, photography, and nature crafts that focus on exploring cultural awareness themes. 

Dance – Staff and Volunteers offer instruction in a variety of dance styles. 

Character and Leadership

Keystone and Torch Clubs – Leadership training and service learning opportunities are provided for youth who show an interest and/or talent.

Leadership in Training – Provides teens training and an opportunity to volunteer and give back to the community.  Members participate in community service projects, develop and lead activities for younger youth, and learn to assume responsibility for their actions. 

Youth of the Year and Month– Recognizes accomplishments, effort and participation by a member from the Club monthly.  Youth of the year is selected from among the monthly awardees and goes on to a regional and national competition.

Education and Career

POWER Hour – Helps Members become more successful in school by providing homework help, tutoring and supplemental educational activities that encourage members to become self-directed learners through personal goal setting. 

Technology Centers – Supervised exploration of computers and technology with structured classes and measured learning through portfolio assessment.

Career Development – Older members explore a variety of career choices and learn about the skills necessary to secure their choice of employment.

 Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program – Teens are taught to make responsible choices in relation to sexual activity. They learn the physical and psychological dangers of becoming sexually active prematurely.

Fitness, Athletics, and Recreation

Fitness – Staff and volunteers offer instruction in and lead fitness classes and members learn techniques for maintaining personal fitness. 

Athletics – Organized team sports with interclub leagues for basketball, football, baseball and soccer. 

Social Recreation – Volunteers and staff offer instruction in and organize table and board games.  Opportunities are provided in facilitated social interactions to improve communication skills and learn etiquette with dances and monthly achievement celebrations.  Week-long overnight camp is offered in the summer. 

Health and Life Skills

SMART MOVES – Designed for youth and their parents, this program educates young people about immediate threats to their well being through alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, teen pregnancy and teaches them to deal appropriately with peer pressure, gang activity and media influence.  Brings in collaborative partners to assist with guided discussion of specific topics.  Offers programs according to age and needs. 

Cooking Classes –  Teaches youth about nutrition and how to prepare healthy meals and snacks.  Participants explore cuisine from different cultures. 

Money Matters – Youth learn about the wise use of credit, investing money, insurance, managing debt, and purchasing a house. 

 

 

Delinquency Intervention Program

 

Delinquency Intervention Program – Juvenile offenders get new opportunities when they are referred to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany. Structured programs teach them discipline and new friends give them a new sense of responsibility to their community.