Education & Career Development

Members are able to support all that they
learn in school by participating in education
and technology programs that are fun and
engaging for a variety of age groups.

The Education & Career Development Core Program Area enables youth to become proficient in basic educational disciplines, apply learning to everyday situations, and embrace technology to achieve success in a career. For more information, contact the Education Director.

Project Learn
Project Learn reinforces and enhances the skills and knowledge young people learn at school through "high-yield" learning activities at the Club and in the home. Based on Dr. Reginald Clark's research that shows fun, but academically beneficial activities, increase academic performance, these activities include leisure reading, writing activities, homework help and games like Scrabble ® which develop young people's cognitive skills. Project Learn emphasizes collaborations between Club staff, parents and school personnel. Formally evaluated by Columbia University, Project Learn boosts the academic performance of Club members.

Power Hour: Making Minutes Count
Every Monday through Thursday afternoon, the Club provides homework help, using staff members and volunteer tutors. Help is provided for homework, writing papers, doing research and projects, and learning to use the Internet to accomplish these tasks. All students who participate can gain "points" to be applied toward incentives and rewards. Those making the honor roll are treated to a special party at the end of each quarter.

Goals for Graduation
Goals for Graduation introduces Club members ages 6-15 to the concept of academic goal setting. In one-on-one sessions with Club professionals, members set achievable "Know-I-Can" goals, more challenging "Think-I-Can" goals and yearly "Believe-I-Can" goals, and then create action plans. The program provides for recognition of members' achievements at every step of the journey.

Ultimate Journey
This internationally recognized, award-winning program leads Club members ages 6-12 on a fun-filled journey into the amazing world of plants and animals. The Ultimate Journey motivates young people to develop an understanding of and sensitivity to the environment, helping them build the knowledge and motivation to protect our natural resources.

CareerLaunch
CareerLaunchTM is a career exploration and mentoring program for teens ages 13-18. This program includes the CareerLaunch Web site that allows teens to take an interest survey, explore careers, identify training or college requirements, seek out financial aid and play skills-building games. There's also an easy-to-use Career Exploration Quick Reference Guide with a broad range of career planning and job skills activities that Club staff or volunteers can use with teens. The CareerLaunch Portfolio contains a Teen Tips booklet with helpful interviewing and on-the-spot job tips.

CLUBService
This program, the result of a partnership between Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Corporation for National Service (AmeriCorps), provides education awards to Club members ages 17 and 18 and Club alumni ages 19-24 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.

Technology
The Club offers a variety of technology programs that include the Netsmartz Internet Safety program, Skill Tech I and II to help Club members understand networking, the Internet, and Microsoft Office products, as well as a variety of technology based programs including digital photography, Web page construction and other digital arts programming.

Ledge Street Initiative
Fifth grade Ledge Street students are allowed to come to the Club during school hours if they have maintained good attendance, behaved satisfactorily, and have completed their homework assignments. Those who qualify can come to the Club once a week and participate in a number of athletic and recreational activities during school hours on Fridays. Teachers, students and staff have noticed a remarkable change in attitude and effort, resulting in excellence in educational performance. As a reward, all students are given a free one-year Club membership.

Partners in Education
The New Hampshire Partners in Education, an organization dedicated to bringing business and non-profit organizations together for the common benefit of our schools, has recognized the Club as a Gold Circle Winner. The organization has been proud of the hard work that the Boys & Girls Club has put into the Partners in Education Program and has presented the award to the Club each of the last ten years.

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