Boys And Girls Clubs Of The Twin Cities

TO ENABLE ALL YOUNG PEOPLE TO REACH THEIR POTENTIAL AS PRODUCTIVE, CARING, RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS.

SINCE 1926, THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF THE TWIN CITIES HAS PROVIDED ACADEMIC AND LIFESKILLS PROGRAMMING FOR TWIN CITIES, AT-RISK YOUTH, AGES FIVE TO EIGHTEEN. WE OPERATE CLUBS AT TEN METRO-AREA LOCATIONS, PLACED IN TARGETED NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THE NEED IS THE GREATEST, AS WELL AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER LOCATED IN MOUND, MINNESOTA. OUR PROVEN APPROACH ATTRACTS 2,917 YOUNG PEOPLE AND UNDERSERVED YOUTH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.OUR MISSION IS TO ENABLE ALL YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO NEED US MOST, TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AS PRODUCTIVE, CARING, RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS. THE CLUBS OFFER TWIN CITIES' YOUTH THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP A FIRM FOUNDATION OF TRUST, HOPE, AND RESPONSIBILITY FROM WHICH THEY CAN ACHIEVE POSITIVE OUTCOMES AND LOOK FORWARD TO A GREAT FUTURE. WE STRIVE TO OFFER YOUTH LIFE-CHANGING PROGRAMS; FUN, ENRICHING EXPERIENCES; AND SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEERS AND CARING ADULTS. OUR VISION IS TO PROVIDE A HIGH QUALITY CLUB EXPERIENCE THAT ASSURES SUCCESS IS WITHIN REACH OF EVERY YOUNG PERSON WHO ENTERS OUR DOORS, WITH ALL MEMBERS ON TRACK TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL WITH A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE, DEMONSTRATING GOOD CHARACTER AND CITIZENSHIP, AND LIVING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. THE CLUBS OFFER TWIN CITIES YOUTH A FIRM FOUNDATION OF TRUST, HOPE, AND RESPONSIBILITY. TO ACHIEVE OUR MISSION, BGCTC MAINTAINS THE FIVE KEY ELEMENTS OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: 1) A SAFE, POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE KIDS FEEL THEY BELONG2) FUN AND EXCITING AGE-APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES3) TRAINED AND GUIDANCE-ORIENTED PROFESSIONAL MENTORS WHO ARE WELL-EQUIPPED TO BUILD SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH CLUB MEMBERS4) HIGH EXPECTATIONS IN DIVERSE EXPERIENCES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT CHALLENGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO LEARN NEW SKILLS AND STRENGTHEN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A POSITIVE SELF-CONCEPT5) EMPHASIZE POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT, PRAISE, AND RECOGNITION OF YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT BGCTC OPERATES CLUBS AT TEN METRO-AREA LOCATIONS, LOCATED IN TARGETED SAINT PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE NEED IS THE GREATEST, AS WELL AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER, VOYAGEUR ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER (VOYAGEUR), LOCATED IN MOUND, MINNESOTA. PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED FOR YOUTH AGES 5-18 AFTER SCHOOL AND DURING EXTENDED DAYTIME HOURS OVER THE SUMMER MONTHS, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. STAFF MEMBERS, MANY OF WHOM HAVE DEDICATED THEIR CAREERS TO BGCTC'S YOUTH, PROVIDE CONSISTENT GUIDANCE WHILE DELIVERING HIGH-YIELD, OUTCOME-DRIVEN PROGRAMS IN INDIVIDUAL, SMALL GROUP, AND LARGE GROUP SETTINGS. ACADEMIC SUCCESS:THE ACADEMIC SUCCESS STRATEGY PREPARES YOUNG PEOPLE TO BECOME LIFELONG LEARNERS AND DO WELL IN SCHOOL, PROVIDING YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATIONAL ENHANCEMENT, CAREER EXPLORATION, AND AUGMENTED LEARNING IN LITERACY, FINANCE, ARTS, AND TECHNOLOGY. CORE PROGRAMS INCLUDE: POWER HOUR (HOMEWORK HELP AND TUTORING FOR AGES 5-18), LITERACY PROGRAM (READING PROGRAM AND LITERACY ENRICHMENT FOR GRADES K-6), NUMERACY PROGRAM (MATH ENRICHMENT FOR GRADES 4-6), STEAM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART, AND MATH ENRICHMENT FOR AGES 5-18), THE ARTS (STUDIO AND PERFORMING ARTS FOR AGES 5-18), GOALS FOR GRADUATION (ACADEMIC GOAL SETTING FOR AGES 6-18), AND TEEN PATHWAYS FIELD-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR TEENS AS THEY PREPARE TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL, INCLUDING MONEY MATTERS (FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR AGES 13-18) AND CAREER LAUNCH/JOB READY! (JOB SKILLS/JOB SEARCH TECHNIQUES AND CAREER EXPLORATION AND MENTORING FOR AGES 13-18).GOOD CHARACTER & LEADERSHIP:THE GOOD CHARACTER & LEADERSHIP STRATEGY INSPIRES YOUTH TO BE ENGAGED BY PROVIDING CHARACTER, LEADERSHIP, AND SERVICE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO CLUB MEMBERS. PROGRAMS COACH YOUTH TO DEVELOP PLANNING AND DECISION-MAKING SKILLS BY SUPPORTING AND INFLUENCING THEIR CLUB AND COMMUNITY. CORE PROGRAMS INCLUDE: TORCH CLUB (SMALL GROUP LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE CLUB FOR AGES 11-13), KEYSTONE CLUB (LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICE CLUB FOR AGES 14-18), FOX SPORTS NORTH (FSN) ALL-STARS (CLUB PARTICIPATION, POSITIVE BEHAVIOR, AND GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP INCENTIVES PROGRAM FOR AGES 8-13), YOUTH OF THE YEAR (BGCTC'S PREMIER RECOGNITION PROGRAM, CELEBRATING THE EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENTS OF CLUB TEENS), AND UPS ROAD CODE, A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE UPS FOUNDATION AND BGCA PROVIDING A FREE-TO-ATTEND DRIVER'S EDUCATION PROGRAM TEACHING TEENAGERS SAFE DRIVING PRACTICES. HEALTHY LIFESTYLES:THE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES STRATEGY DEVELOPS YOUNG PEOPLE'S CAPACITY TO LIVE HEALTHFULLY BY EDUCATING YOUTH ABOUT FITNESS, NUTRITION AND SMART HEALTH DECISIONS. ACTIVITIES FOCUS ON INSTILLING POSITIVE CONFLICT RESOLUTION TECHNIQUES, ENCOURAGING POSITIVE BEHAVIORS, SETTING PERSONAL GOALS, AND BUILDING RESISTANCE SKILLS THAT NURTURE AND STRENGTHEN KIDS' MINDS AND BODIES. CORE PROGRAMS INCLUDE: PASSPORT TO MANHOOD (PROMOTES AND TEACHES RESPONSIBILITY TO BOYS AGES 8-17), SKILLS MASTERY AND RESILIENCE TRAINING (SMART) GIRLS (SMALL-GROUP HEALTH AND FITNESS EDUCATION AND SELF-ESTEEM ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM FOR GIRLS AGES 5-18, PRESENTED IN THREE AGE GROUPS), KIDS FEEDING KIDS (NUTRITION PROGRAM, COOKING CLASSES, AND GARDENING ACTIVITIES FOR AGES 5-18), TRIPLE PLAY (HEALTH & WELLNESS INITIATIVE FOR AGES 6-18 FOCUSING ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, GOOD NUTRITION, AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS), VOYAGEUR (RESIDENTIAL CAMP AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR AGES 6-18), AND SPORTS (RECREATION AND SPORTS LEAGUES FOR AGES 6-18).