BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE BEMIDJI AREA

THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE BEMIDJI AREA SERVES YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES IN A COUNTY WHERE 21 PERCENT OF CHILDREN LIVE AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL. THE CLUB DELIVERS AFFORDABLE PROGRAMS TO YOUTH AFTER SCHOOL AND TIMES WHEN YOUTH ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE ON THEIR OWN AND IN NEED OF POSITIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES WITH CARING ADULTS. BY THE NUMBERS: THE CLUB SERVES ABOUT 600 CHILDREN ANNUALLY. NEARLY 64 PERCENT OF CLUB MEMBERS COME FROM FAMILIES AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL. ABOUT 50 PERCENT OF CLUB MEMBERS IDENTIFY AS CAUCASIAN AND THE REMAINING AS PEOPLE OF COLOR OR MIXED ETHNICITIES. CLUB PROGRAMS ARE SUPPORTED BY ABOUT 70 STAFF MEMBERS AND 231 ADULT VOLUNTEERS.FUNDING: THE CLUB FUNDS ITS MISSION THROUGH PRIVATE DONATIONS, COMMUNITY BUSINESSES, PRIVATE AND CORPORATE FOUNDATIONS AND GOVERNMENT GRANTS. MORE THAN 75 PERCENT OF FUNDING IS FROM INDIVIDUAL AND BUSINESS DONORS ALONG WITH LOCAL FOUNDATIONS. MISSION AND SIGNFICANT ACTIVITIES: ALTHOUGH THE CLUB SERVES ABOUT 600 CHILDREN ANNUALLY, THE FOCUS IS ON EACH, INDIVIDUAL CHILD. THE CLUB BUILDS RELATIONSHIPS THAT HELP YOUTH DISCOVER THEIR OWN POTENTIAL AND RECOGNIZE THEMSELVES AS VALUABLE AND INTEGRAL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. STAFF KNOW EACH CLUB MEMBER BY NAME. AND THOSE TEENS AND CHILDREN MOST IN NEED WORK INDIVIDUALLY WITH TRAINED MENTORS.PROGRAMMING FOCUSES ON BUILDING ACADEMIC SUCCESS, HELPING YOUTH ADOPT HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AND GROWING INTO CARING AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS. ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR CLUB PROGRAMS IS ITS GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE. ALSO, TEENS HAVE THEIR OWN TEEN CENTER WITHIN THE CLUB.ACADEMIC SUCCESS: ALL CLUB YOUTH ARE ENCOURAGED TO SET ACADEMIC GOALS, GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND TO CONSIDER POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION OR JOB TRAINING. CLUB MEMBERS SPEND AT LEAST 30 MINUTES DAILY DOING HOMEWORK AT THE CLUB, READING QUIETLY, PLAYING EDUCATIONAL GAMES LIKE MATH DODGE BALL OR WORKING WITH A TUTOR. CHILDREN WHO STRUGGLE WITH READING WORK WITH READING TUTORS OR PARTICIPATE IN THE BEMIDJI AREA CANINE READING PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS THEM TO READ TO SPECIALLY-TRAINED DOGS. YOUTH ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER LAB, AN ART ROOM AND CLUB LIBRARY AND STEM ACTIVITIES. CLUB MEMBERS CAN COMPETE ANNUALLY IN A NATIONAL FINE ARTS CONTEST.HEALTHY LIFESTYLES: CLUB YOUTH ARE ENCOURAGED TO ENGAGE IN POSITIVE BEHAVIORS THAT NURTURE WELL-BEING, AVOID HARMFUL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE, SET PERSONAL GOALS AND GROW INTO SELF-SUFFICIENT ADULTS BY PARTICIPATING IN DAILY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, MAKING HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES AND DEVELOPING AN APPRECIATION FOR THE OUTDOORS. THE CLUB SERVES A HEALTHY, NUTRITIOUS AFTER-SCHOOL SNACK AND LUNCH IN THE SUMMERTIME. CLUB YOUTH HAVE THEIR OWN GARDEN AND OUTDOOR LEARNING CENTER WHERE THEY GROW AND LEARN TO PREPARE FRESH PRODUCE, HOST THEIR OWN FARMER'S MARKET FOR CLUB FAMILIES AND PREPARE AN ANNUAL COMMUNITY HARVEST DINNER. IN THE SUMMER, THE CLUB SENDS A SELECT GROUP OF TEENS TO A WEEKLONG CANOEING ADVENTURE ON THE CANADIAN BORDER.GOOD CHARACTER AND CITIZENSHIP: CLUB YOUTH FOCUS ON COMMUNITY SERVICE VOLUNTEERING AT THE CLUB AND IN THE COMMUNITY. SERVICE BUILDS LEADERSHIP SKILLS, COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND A SENSE OF WELL-BEING. EVERY YEAR, CLUB TEENS VIE FOR YOUTH OF THE YEAR WITH THE CHANCE TO COMPETE AT THE STATE, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL LEVEL AND EARN SCHOLARSHIP. CLUB YOUTH OF ALL AGES RECEIVE RECOGNITION FOR POSITIVE BEHAVIOR.