Our 5 Core Program Areas
which are incorporated into daily activities:
1) Character and Leadership Development
Programs in Character and Leadership Development empower youth to support and influence their Club and Community, sustain meaningful relationships with others, develop a positive self-image, participate in the democratic process and respect their own and others' cultural identities.
2) Education & Career Development
Programs in Education and Career Development enable youth to become proficient in basic educational disciplines, apply learning to everyday situations and embrace technology to achieve success in a career.
3) Health & Life Skills
Programs in Health and Life Skills develop young people's capacity to engage in positive behaviors that nurture their own well-being, teach them to set personal goals and live successfully as self-sufficient adults.
4) The Arts
Programs in The Arts enable youth to develop their creativity and cultural awareness through knowledge and appreciation of the visual arts, crafts, performing arts and creative writing.
5) Sports, Fitness & Recreation
Programs in Sports, Fitness and Recreation develop fitness, positive use of leisure time, skills for stress management, appreciation for the environment as well as social skills.One of the most important elements of the Boys & Girls Club of Magic Valley is the Youth Development Strategy. This strategy serves to instill in youth a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and power or influence.
A Sense of Competence-is fostered when staff emphasize members' successes-and encourage members to build on them. You can be sure that every young person is given the chance to succeed at something and that successes are celebrated with the kids. Members are encouraged to participate in planning and implementation of different programs offered by the Boys & Girls Club of Magic Valley.
A Sense of Usefulness-makes everybody feel like they are needed. We want to make sure that each member feels like he or she is contributing to what is accomplished here at the Club. Even little jobs can make all the difference to a child. The idea that we couldn't do our jobs without the help of Club members is very empowering to a child! From the member who has been here for years, to the child who just signed up today, all are an important part of the Clubs' success. We work very hard to help kids feel they are useful at the Club.
A Sense of Belonging-is provided through membership dues which are made affordable for any girl or boy who wants to join the Club and a Club environment that instills a warm, comfortable, safe feeling, encourages members to participate in activities and establish bonds with staff and other members. Each new member receives his or her own membership card which helps them to take ownership of the Club. National spokesman Denzel Washington still has his original Boys Club membership card. It helped him to feel as though he belonged to something that had a positive feeling to it rather than all of the negative outside influences he could have been in contact with.
Focus on the Community-Since Boys & Girls Club of Magic Valley is by nature a public affair, activities are designed to appeal to a wide range of people in our community. We consider the neighborhood that our Club serves and the key needs of young people and their families in those neighborhoods.
National data states that during the school year, the prime time for violent juvenile crime is from 3:00p.m. to 7:00p.m. The crimes are serious and violent, including rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults. These are also the hours when kids are most likely to become victims of violent crime, be injured while alone at home, or get hooked on alcohol and other dangerous drugs. The cost of not providing positive safe places for our youth results in enormous costs to all citizens. According to Idaho statistics, it costs:
* $5,000 per year to educate a child in Idaho public schools.
* $60,000 per year to house and educate a student in Idaho's juvenile detention centers.
* $17,500 per year to house an adult in one of Idaho's jails or prison.
Compare these costs with $20.00 a year for a Boys & Girls Club Membership!
These negative statistics point to growing problems, but they also emphasize the great opportunity to reach out to children and teens of the communities of the Magic Valley and make a difference. Your generous contributions help to make that difference.
What We Offer
What We Offer
What you'll find at the Club...
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