The Boys & Girls
Clubs of the San Luis Valley provide a safe place for hundreds of valley
youth to go after school and during the summer. Programs are based on
the physical, emotional, cultural and social needs and interests of
girls and boys. Recognizing developmental principles, our club offers
programs in six core areas:
Education
and Career Development encourages our youth to become proficient
in basic educational disciplines and instills a curiosity and a love
of learning. Programs include tutoring, reading and math skill development,
science, college and career preparation, goal setting and computer technology.
First-time job experiences are obtained through our Junior Staff programming.
Character
and Leadership Development empowers youth to support and influence
their community, sustain meaningful relationships, develop a positive
self-image, participate in the democratic process and respect their
own and others' cultural identities. Programs in this area include community
and Club service projects, intergenerational activities, group activities,
informal social recreation activities, Keystone and Torch Clubs and
environmental education.
Health and
Life Skills helps to develop young people's capacity to engage
in positive behaviors, set personal goals, and live successfully as
self-sufficient adults. Programs include health and hygiene, drug and
alcohol prevention, nutrition classes, conflict management, anger management,
adolescent pregnancy prevention and peer mediation.
We
offer a multitude of prevention programs including the Olweus Bully
Prevention program, and Smart Moves which is a drug, alcohol and pregnancy
prevention program for pre-teens.
Art Education
enables youth to develop their creativity and cultural awareness
through knowledge and appreciation of the visual arts, performing arts,
crafts and creative writing. Programs include art, theater, dance, photography
and cultural diversity programs. The Club has a dark room that allows
the older children to begin to develop their own photography. The recent
addition of a loom, built by local weavers, has allowed youth to enjoy
fiber arts. The potter's wheels and kiln allow the youth to explore
pottery. These activities foster self expression and creativity, and
help to develop appreciation of the arts and culture.
Sports, Fitness
and Recreation develops fitness, positive use of leisure time
and skills for stress management. Programs include basketball, lacrosse,
wrestling,
street
hockey, softball, soccer [see the schedule], football, volleyball, game room contests and
martial arts. Youth develop skills for stress management, appreciation
for the environment, teamwork and basic skills to develop their own
appreciation of physical education.
Technology
and Media - The Intel/El Pomar Computer Clubhouse at the Alamosa
Club, provides an incredible array of hands on media opportunities,
everything from website design to film to music making. This state of
the art facility brings in youth from all three sites who are able to
take advantage of the Computer Clubhouse.
One of the main
accomplishments of the Clubs is that we are improving children's success
in academic areas in which they set goals. These areas were defined
by the members themselves and due to their own goal setting, attendance
increased in the educational programming at the Club.
Contact
Us for more information on the Boys & Girls Clubs of the San
Luis Valley, learn about Volunteering
with us, or find out how to Support the
Clubs.