Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County

This program uses the early warning signals — attendance, behavior and course failure — to identify youth at risk of dropping out of school.

Power Hour: Making Minutes Count provides Club professionals with the strategies, activities, resources and information to create an engaging homework help and tutoring program that encourages Club members at every age to become self-directed learners.

Project Learn reinforces the academic enrichment and school engagement of young people during the time they spend at the Club.

The Walmart Foundation’s Bright Spot for Reading Center features books geared at youth ages 10 to 15 and includes programming to encourage adolescents to read more and develop a more positive attitude toward reading. The following are activities are scheduled for summer: Book Club:  BGCSC youth participants choose books to read and discuss. If the book has been made into a movie, there will be a movie review and book comparison. Library Visits: Participants will visit the local library once a week, apply for a library card and be given time to explore the library and check out books. Game Night: Provide teens with board games, cards, charades and more. Refreshments are also made available. Spoken Word: An “open mic” night setting will give youth an opportunity to show off their literary skills through poetry, rap and monologues.Tackling the Issues: Special forums where specific issues such as bullying, racism and online safety will be discussed. These forums will provide a safe and open venue where teens can be informed and learn important tips that will help them in today’s society.

Club Tech’s Digital Arts teaches members ages 6 to 18 how to create computer-generated art. In each of the five tutorials (Web Tech, Design Tech, Photo Tech, Music Tech and Movie Tech), members advance through three levels of animated lessons online at www.myclubmylife.com and participate in instructor-led group activities. Club members ages 10 to 18 are invited to submit their artwork to the annual Club Tech Digital Arts Festivals, which celebrate Club members' creativity in graphic design, photo illustration, digital music composition animation and video production. The regional and national winning artworks can be sampled by going to the Digital Arts Festival Gallery site, www.bgca.org/digitalart.

DramaMatters Afterschool is a drama education program for Clubs that encourages members ages 6 to 18 to engage in hands-on activities. Drama education builds self-confidence, sparks creativity and boosts academic achievement.

This year-round program encourages artistic expression among Club members ages 6 to 18 through drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, mixed media and sculpture displayed at local and regional exhibits.

Money Matters promotes financial responsibility and independence among Club members ages 13 to 18. Participants learn how to manage a checking account, create a budget, save and invest, start small businesses and pay for college.

CareerLaunch is a career exploration and mentoring program for teens ages 13-18.

Club Tech is an ambitious, multi-year initiative that provides all Boys & Girls Clubs with state-of-the-art software; a comprehensive array of programs to help Club professionals build members’ computer skills and integrate technology in all Core Program Areas

Game Tech provides Club members, ages 10 to 13, a fun introduction to the field of video game development and principles of game design, animation mechanics and software.