Project Learn
Project Learn reinforces and enhances the skills and knowledge young people learn at school during the hours they spend at the Club. This comprehensive program strategy is based on Dr. Reginald Clark’s research showing that students do much better in school when they spend their non-school hours engaged in fun, but academically beneficial, activities. Through Project Learn, Club staff use all the areas and programs in the Club to create opportunities for these high-yield learning activities, which include leisure reading, writing activities, discussions with knowledgeable adults, helping others, homework help and tutoring and games like Scrabble that develop young people’s cognitive skills. Project Learn also emphasizes parent involvement and collaboration between Club and school professionals as critical factors in creating the best after-school learning environment for Club members ages 6-18. Extensively field-tested and formally evaluated by Columbia University with funding from Carnegie Corporation of New York, Project Learn has been proven to boost the academic performance of Club members. The JCPenney Afterschool Fund underwrote the initial implementation of this educational enhancement approach in Clubs across the nation.

Goals for Graduation
Goals for Graduation, a Project Learn resource, introduces academic goal setting to Club members ages 6-15 by linking their future aspirations with concrete actions today. In goal-setting sessions with Club youth development professionals, members set achievable “Know-I-Can” Goals, more challenging “Think-I-Can” Goals, and yearly “Believe-I-Can” goals. Members create an action plan with daily and weekly goals leading to short- and long-term gains. A comprehensive guidance strategy helps members connect their smallest results to their highest dreams. An encouraging recognition strategy buoys members as their successes are recognized and supported at every step of their journey. JCPenney After-school Fund sponsors Goals for Graduation.

Power Hour: Making Minutes Count
Power Hour: Making Minutes Count helps Club members ages 6-12 be more successful in school by providing homework help and tutoring and encouraging members to become self-directed learners. The program kit includes a manual, a guidebook for homework helpers and tutors and charts for tracking and rewarding participants’ progress. JCPenney Afterschool Fund sponsors Power Hour: Making Minutes Count. Access the supplemental materials you need to implement Power Hour here. Record-keeping forms, a sample press release and other communication tools, and a sample funding proposal are all available for downloading.  

The Ultimate Journey
This internationally recognized, award-winning environmental education program leads Club members ages 6-12 on a fun-filled journey into the beautiful and amazing world of plants and animals. Through participation in games, crafts and discovery-based activities, young people develop an awareness of the environment, acquire a better understanding of how human actions affect nature, reinforce math and science skills and learn about conservation of our natural resources.

CareerLaunch^®
CareerLaunch encourages Club members ages 13-18 to assess their skills and interests, explore careers, make sound educational decisions and prepare to join our nation’s ever-changing work force. Club staff or volunteers can use the Career Exploration Quick Reference Guide to work with teens individually or in small groups to build their job-search skills and job readiness. CareerLaunch Teen Tips is an easy-to-read, pocket-sized booklet for teens full of practical job-hunting advice that comes with an attractive portfolio for storing resumes, job applications and other job-hunting documents. The dynamic CareerLaunch Web site provides Club teens, staff and volunteers with online career exploration and college and job search information and interactive activities. Mentoring and job shadowing opportunities for Club teens and training for Club staff round out the CareerLaunch program, generously sponsored by the Gap Foundation.

The CareerLaunch Outreach CD-ROM assists Clubs interested in attracting more teen members and serving youth in their community. This CD-ROM and a how-to guide can help you introduce CareerLaunch to high schools and community organizations in your area.

 JOB READY!
JOB READY! prepares Club members ages 16-18 with specific skills to secure employment and be successful in the world of work. Using the comprehensive program materials and assessment tools that JOB READY! provides, Club staff can tailor the program to meet their members’ particular needs. Teens learn how to identify job opportunities, write effective résumés, perform well in interviews, dress appropriately, develop good work habits and get along well with others in the workplace. JOB READY! was developed with funding from Taco Bell Foundation.  

CLUBService
CLUBService provides education awards to Club members and alumni ages 17-24 who serve their Clubs and communities. CLUBService recognizes young people’s service, helps them access higher education opportunities and encourages them to pursue future careers as Club professionals. CLUBService is made possible through a partnership between Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Corporation for National and Community Service (AmeriCorps). Use Acrobat Reader to view the  Project Site Application Guide, which contains program details and instructions for completing the application.

Junior Staff Career Development
Junior Staff Career Development is a comprehensive, small-group program that assists Club members ages 11-18 in exploring a career in youth or human services, particularly Boys & Girls Club work. Through hands-on experiences with helping others in the Club and community, field trips to other service organizations and one-on-one guidance from Club staff, youth prepare for a future role as a human services professional or volunteer leader in their community. Junior Staff Career Development was updated with funding from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, and is supported by Morgan Stanley.

Skill Tech
Skill Tech is a basic computer skills program that develops Club members’ proficiency with word processing, spreadsheet and other productivity software through fun, hands-on, engaging lessons and projects for four age groups. Skill Tech, is just one of the technology programs developed through BGCA’s Club Tech initiative, generously sponsored by Microsoft Corporation.

Skill Tech II: A Club Tech Advanced Skills Program
Skill Tech II is designed to teach advanced, yet practical technology skills to Club members aged 6 to 18. Using animated, interactive tutorials on courseware developed exclusively for Boys & Girls Clubs, as well as hands-on, instructor-led group activities, Skill Tech II introduces members to hardware and networking skills and technology-related career opportunities. Skill Tech II, which will be launched in late spring 2003, is just one of the technology programs developed through BGCA’s Club Tech initiative, generously sponsored by Microsoft Corporation.

Money Matters: Make It Count
Money Matters promotes financial responsibility and independence among Club members ages 13-18 by building their basic money management skills. Participants learn how to manage a checking account, budget, save and invest. They also learn about starting small businesses and paying for college. Money Matters features three components. The Teen Personal Finance Guide is a fun, attractive booklet containing practical tips and activities to help teens learn the important skills of balancing a checkbook, creating a budget and saving and investing for college and retirement. The Facilitator's Guide provides Club staff and volunteers with basic financial information and instructions for easy-to-implement small-group activities. The Money Matters Web site, offers teens an engaging online tool for building their money management knowledge and skills through interactive activities, games and tools like a savings and financial aid calculator to plan for college.  The Charles Schwab Foundation sponsors Money Matters: Make It Count.