Boys And Girls Clubs Of Greater Houston Inc

Programs: Good character and citizenship programs teach members about the importance of giving back to the community and being global citizens. Core programs include keystone club and youth of the year. Keystone club affords teens ages 14-18 an opportunity to gain valuable leadership and service experience. Members elect officers, hold meetings and work together to implement activities in three areas: academic success, career exploration and community service. Torch club is a charter small group leadership and service club for members who learn to work together to implement activities in four areas: service to club and community, education, health and fitness and social recreation. Youth of the year is a youth recognition program for club members that promotes and celebrates service to the club, community and family, academic performance, moral character, life goals, and poise and public speaking ability. Local clubs recognize members each month and select a youth of the year, who then participates in state competition. State winners, who receive $1,000 scholarships, participate in regional competitions. Five regional winners each receive and engraved plaque and a $10,000 scholarship and compete on a national level. The national youth of the year receives an additional $50,000 scholarship and is recognized by the president of the united states.

academic success programs aim to help club members improve their academic performance, graduate on time and pursue a post secondary education. Core programs offered at the club include: summer learning program, be great graduate, diplomas to degrees, money matters, power hour and skill tech. Our summer learning program utilizes field trips and fun, high-yield learning activities that help members apply what they learn in the classroom in an interactive and enriching manner to keep their minds active during the summer vacation from school. Be great graduate is a high school dropout prevention program that introduces academic goal setting to club members by linking their future aspirations with concrete actions today. Diplomas to degrees encourages members toward high school graduation and college readiness by helping youth understand the importance of college, academic preparation, discovering strengths and interest, college search, application process, finacial aid, and college expectations. Money matters promotes financial responsibility and independence by building their management skills and learning how to manage a checking account, budget, save and invest, start a small business and pay for college. Power hour provides homework assistance, tutoring and resources that encourages members to become self-directed learners. Skill tech is a computer program that develops club members' proficiency with office productivity software through fun, hands-on, engaging lessons and projects.

healthy lifestyles programs help members lead healthy, active, drug-free lifestyles. Core programs offered at the clubs include smart moves, smart girls, passport to manhood, and triple play healthy habits. Smart moves participants are exposed to various activities designed to hone their decision-making and critical-thinking skills, as well as learn how to avoid and/or resist alcohol, tobacco, other drugs and premature sexual activity. Smart girls is designed to meet the development needs of clubs girls by exploring their own and societal attitudes and values as they build skills for eating right, staying physically fit, getting good health care and developing positive relationship with peers and adults. Passport to manhood promotes and teaches responsibility in club boys by engaging them in discussions and activities that reinforce positive behaviour. Triple play healthy habits encourages physical fitness through intramural leagues, social recreation, and healthy eating habits by teaching the power of meal choices, calories, vitamins, and food pyramid and appropriate portion size.