Boys And Girls Clubs Of The Twin Cities

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

WITH SERVICE DATING BACK TO 1926, BGCTC HAS A PROVEN HISTORY OF WORKING IN TWIN CITIES COMMUNITIES TO KEEP KIDS AND TEENS ENGAGED WITH OUT-OF-SCHOOL-TIME ACADEMIC, LIFE SKILLS, AND CAREER-FOCUSED PROGRAMMING. WE HAVE INVESTED IN A TRANSFORMATIONAL AND INCLUSIVE PROGRAM MODEL THAT SUPPORTS ESSENTIAL SKILL BUILDING AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH POST-SECONDARY. OUR PROVEN APPROACH ATTRACTS 3,062 REGISTERED MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, BGCTC'S ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OFFERS ALUMNI ACCESS TO SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, CAREER RESOURCES AND NETWORKING, MENTORSHIP, AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE CLUBS.BGCTC'S MISSION IS TO ENABLE ALL YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO NEED US MOST, TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AS PRODUCTIVE, CARING, RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS. OUR NORTH STAR GOAL IS ALL MEMBERS ON TRACK FOR A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION.BGCTC OPERATES CLUBS AT TEN METRO-AREA LOCATIONS, LOCATED IN SAINT PAUL, MINNEAPOLIS, AND RICHFIELD NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE NEED IS THE GREATEST, AS WELL AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER, VOYAGEUR ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER (VOYAGEUR), LOCATED IN MOUND, MINNESOTA. PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED FREE-OF-CHARGE YEAR-ROUND MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FOR GRADES K-12 YOUTH AFTER SCHOOL AND DURING EXTENDED DAYTIME HOURS OVER THE SUMMER MONTHS.BGCTC'S PROGRAM CONTINUUM IS DESIGNED TO HELP EACH YOUNG PERSON ENVISION A FUTURE FULL OF POSSIBILITIES. EARLY READING AND MATH SUCCESS ARE CRITICAL FIRST STEPS TOWARD FUTURE ACADEMIC MILESTONES. BGCTC'S HOLISTIC RESEARCH-BASED PROGRAM MODEL IS MAKING INCREDIBLE PROGRESS IN MOVING KIDS TO AND BEYOND GRADE LEVEL WHILE OPENING THEIR MINDS TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES THOUGH EARLY SKILL BUILDING EXPERIENCES. MIDDLE SCHOOL IS A TIME FOR DISCOVERING SKILLS AND INTERESTS AND DEVELOPING A DESIRE TO SERVE OTHERS. 9TH AND 10TH GRADERS FOCUS ON EXPLORING THE COMMUNITY, LEARNING VITAL FIRST JOB SKILLS, AND ENGAGING IN DEEPER CAREER EXPLORATION. DURING THE FINAL YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL, WE SUPPORT TEENS IN CREATING A PLAN FOR GRADUATION AND STRENGTHENING A POST-SECONDARY PLAN CONNECTED TO A CHOSEN CAREER PATH.BGCTC'S TRANSFORMATIONAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING DIRECTLY HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE STRENGTHEN EDUCATIONAL LEARNING, BUILD POSITIVE SELF-IDENTITY, AND CREATE ASPIRATIONS FOR THEIR FUTURE. WE OFFER TESTED, PROVEN, AND NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PROGRAMS IN THREE PILLARS OF SUCCESS OUTCOME AREAS THAT CLOSELY ALIGN WITH THE DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE SERVED: ACADEMIC SUCCESS, LIFE & WORKFORCE, AND HEALTH & WELLNESS. FAMILY ENGAGEMENT, CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE INSTRUCTION, AND A SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL), TRAUMA-INFORMED, AND MENTAL WELLNESS APPROACH ARE INTEGRATED ACROSS ALL PROGRAMS.CURRENT PROGRAM AREAS ARE AS FOLLOWS: 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 AND SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, MATHEMATICS (STEAM).CORE PROGRAMS INCLUDE: ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND TUTORING FOR K-12; LITERACY PROGRAM (READING PROGRAM AND LITERACY ENRICHMENT FOR K-8); NUMERACY PROGRAM (NUMERACY ENRICHMENT FOR K-8); STEAM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, THE ARTS, AND MATH) ENRICHMENT FOR K-12; AND PERFORMING ARTS FOR K-12.LIFE & WORKFORCE:THE LIFE & WORKFORCE STRATEGY PREPARES TEENS FOR A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, FOCUSING ON DISCOVERING SKILLS & INTERESTS FOR 6TH, 7TH, AND 8TH GRADERS, EXPLORING COMMUNITY FOR 9TH AND 10TH GRADERS, AND IDENTIFYING A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE FOR 11TH AND 12TH GRADERS.CORE PROGRAMS INCLUDE: MONEY MATTERS (FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR GRADES 6-12); DIPLOMAS2DEGREES (ACADEMIC GOAL SETTING, CAREER READINESS, AND SKILL-BUILDING FOR GRADES 9-12); CAREER LAUNCH (JOB SKILLS, CAREER EXPLORATION, AND MENTORING FOR GRADES 9-12); FIELD-BASED CAREER EXPOSURE EXPERIENCES FOR GRADES 6-12; SMART MOVES (SKILLS MASTERY AND RESILIENCE TRAINING) PREVENTION AND EDUCATION PROGRAM ADDRESSES PROBLEMS SUCH AS DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE AND PREMATURE SEXUAL ACTIVITY FOR GRADES 6-8; TORCH CLUB (SMALL GROUP LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE CLUB FOR GRADES 6-8); KEYSTONE CLUB (LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICE CLUB FOR GRADES 9-12); AND YOUTH OF THE YEAR (BGCTC'S PREMIER RECOGNITION PROGRAM, CELEBRATING THE EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENTS OF CLUB TEENS). HEALTH & WELLNESS:THE HEALTH & WELLNESS 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 RESILIENCE SKILLS THAT NURTURE AND STRENGTHEN KIDS' MINDS AND BODIES.AN SEL CURRICULUM, TRAUMA-INFORMED INSTRUCTION, AND MENTAL WELLNESS ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE GROUP THERAPY SESSIONS, HELP YOUTH UNDERSTAND AND EXPRESS THEIR EMOTIONS AND WORK THROUGH CHALLENGES. CORE PROGRAMS INCLUDE: PASSPORT TO MANHOOD (PROMOTES AND TEACHES RESPONSIBILITY TO GRADES 3-12 BOYS); SKILLS MASTERY AND RESILIENCE TRAINING (SMART) GIRLS (SMALL-GROUP HEALTH AND FITNESS EDUCATION AND SELF-ESTEEM ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM FOR GRADES K-12 GIRLS, PRESENTED IN THREE AGE GROUPS); KIDS FEEDING KIDS (NUTRITION PROGRAM, COOKING CLASSES, AND GARDENING ACTIVITIES FOR GRADES K-12); TRIPLE PLAY (HEALTH & WELLNESS INITIATIVE FOR GRADES K-12 FOCUSING ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, GOOD NUTRITION, AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS); VOYAGEUR (RESIDENTIAL CAMP AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR GRADES K-12); HEALTHY MOVEMENT (RECREATION AND TEAM SPORTS FOR GRADES K-12), PROMOTING SELF-AWARENESS, SELF-MANAGEMENT, SOCIAL AWARENESS, RELATIONSHIP SKILLS, AND RESPONSIBLE DECISION MAKING TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE DEVELOP A GROWTH MINDSET; AND SEL ACTIVITIES AND MENTAL WELLNESS SUPPORT FOR K-12.