Good Character & Leadership

We teach kids and teens how to be responsible, engaged citizens and innovative, resilient leaders through mentorship, accountability and modeling good behavior.

 

 


Youth of the Year

Since 1947, Youth of the Year has been Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier recognition program, celebrating the extraordinary achievements of Club members. Each year, one exceptional young person from a Boys & Girls Club rises to the role of National Youth of the Year. The journey begins locally and progresses to state, regional and national levels. Congratulations to our 2024 Youth of the Year, Erick Fuentes, from the Ferndale Clubhouse!

 

Every month, each Clubhouses selects one member as Member of the Month to highlight within the Club. This award recognizes kids who have gone “above and beyond” in terms of their deeds, actions or words. We enjoy positively reinforcing good choices with this award.

In response to a growing local need for career prep and workforce readiness training we launched a county-wide, year-round, comprehensive initiative in order to be part of the solution.  This innovative program provides the framework needed to ensure all Club youth have the vital skills, knowledge and self-awareness to plan and build a viable postsecondary future whether that means college, skilled trades or a direct path into a growth industry. Named Spark My Future by our local teens attending the Club, the curriculum is composed of three Boys & Girls Clubs of America developed programs. 

  • CareerLaunch focuses on preparing youth for internships, first jobs, and ongoing skill acquisition. 
  • Money Matters, a financial literacy program, seeks to promote financial responsibility and independence for the future. 
  • Road Code teaches safe driving techniques and principles through driving simulation headsets.

We also incorporate SMART Moves, a BGCA curriculum that utilizes age-appropriate small group discussions and activities to develop responsible decision-making skills, enabling students to avoid risky behaviors, including involvement with alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Together, this comprehensive approach will set up our future leaders for the best possible opportunity to being successful as they enter the workforce and adulthood.