Academic Success

• Power Period

Power Period is offered daily from 12–4:30pm and is a high-yield learning initiative during which all BGCMC program spaces are focused on supporting Members in the successful completion of homework and on reinforcing academic skills. During Power Period, each BGCMC program space is committed to offering only activities that promote or reinforce academic learning, with a special emphasis on math, literacy and critical thinking skills. Each day, Members are supported by a team of staff and volunteers who provide homework assistance, and when needed, provide individual support and tutoring. When homework is completed, or for Members who don’t have any homework or choose not to complete it at the Club, a spectrum of educational activities, known as HYLAs (high-yield learning activities), are made available throughout the Club. With a focus on fun, HYLAs are engaging, thoughtfully planned activities that help young people see the practical application of lessons taught in the classroom. Whether solving math problems to advance through a pool tournament in the Activity Center, conducting an experiment in the Science Center or learning how to create a PowerPoint presentation in the Technology Center, Power Period keeps Members learning while having fun.

• Encouraging Science and Math Exploration

Our award winning science and math activities empower members with vital scientific and mathematical concepts while at the same time instilling in them a sense of wonder about the natural world that surrounds them. While we have a range of programs throughout the year, below is a sample of some of our innovative programs that take place every week:

Club Mathaletes – Middle school students build their mathematical and critical thinking skills by receiving one-on-one tutoring in math and engaging in group activities that are aligned with their school curriculum. Other aspects include academic goal setting, discussion groups and math computer and competition games that increase member motivation and allows them to see the fun and magic that exists within math concepts. So far, most participants have increased their math performance in in school by one full letter grade.

Eco-Team – This program allows our younger members to get their hands dirty and explore nature by planting vegetables, fruits, and native plants in our Club gardens and instills in them a greater sense of environmental stewardship.

Repto-phibian Club – This Science leadership program allows members of all ages to feed our local Club animals, clean their areas, take them out of the cages and instills in them a sense of responsibility and appreciation for living things.

Weekly Science Labs – Members complete engaging weekly science labs and review fundamental science concepts in a state of the art science facility using an award winning science curriculum developed right here at BGCMC.

Recruitment In Science Education(RISE) – In partnership with California State Univeristy – Monterey Bay (CSUMB), this college readiness and scholarship curriculum encourages high school students to learn complex scientific concepts through engaging activities while at the same time helping them to apply and succeed in the college environment. For completing the program, all participants are given a valuable college scholarship.

Women in Science Exploration (WISE) – In partnership with Hartnell College, this science lab curriculum that exposes our elementary and middle school members to basic science concepts through hand-on learning activities inside and outside of the lab. It also encourages our young women to pursue a career in the field of science.

• Enhancing Technology Skills

We strive to provide multiple opportunities for BGCMC members to increase their technology skills and develop projects using up-to-date technological hardware and software applications. While we have a range of programs throughout the year, below is a sample of some of our innovative programs that take place every week:

Technology Testing – The Technology Testing program cultivates computer proficiency by requiring members to master four advancing skill levels and by doing so increase their technical abilities on a personal, academic and professional level. Members increase their typing skills, master Microsoft Office and Outlook software, learn appropriate use of the internet, create their own web page, and produce and display a digital media project. Additional computer privileges and incentives are earned for reaching each consecutive testing level.

Technology Classes – Our Technology Centers offer weekly training classes in Microsoft Office programs including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint. Our members may also take a class in using Internet search engines, computer coding, and on computer maintenance. The Club also offers a variety of academic software for members including math games and learning software, science games, entrepreneurial games, academic credit recovery, and digital media software.

• Building Life, Academic and Career Goals

BGCMC members are purpose driven people with high expectations of themselves and others. At BGCMC, we offer a range of programs throughout the year to assist members in building their life, academic and professional goals and gain the skills necessary to achieve theses dreams.

Career Launch – Our Career Launch program provides an opportunity for our teen members to advance their professional skills by taking workshops in specific career areas of interest. Members may take a workshop in resume writing, cover letter development, job interviewing, professional work attire, professional goal setting, group faciliation, professional body language and demeanor, email writing, time management and job shadowing. The program culminates in a graduation celebration where all participants can display their self developed job portfolio binders.

Teen Internships – Once teen members complete the Career Launch program at the Club, they are eligible to apply for a paid Club Internship. As Club Interns, teen members are trained as Club staff and are asked to run programming at the Club as well as assist with management of younger members. Teens are coached on their job performance and given feedback about their strength and growth areas. This gives teen members the opportunity to directly display the professional skills they have learned as participants in the Career Prep program.

College Chats – Every month, our teen members are invited to attend a College Chat. During these College Chats, members meet with a variety of individuals who have either completed college or are presently taking classes at a local college and can ask them questions about their academic and career experiences. Some past examples of speakers include former Club members, college professors, local business professionals, college recruitment staff, local political leaders and college students who volunter

College Scholarships and Club Service – The Club offers a variety of college scholarship opportunities for members who earn success in their academic endeavors. We have the Davis Love Scholorship, the Pay It Forward Scholarship, the NFL Legends Scholarship, Youth of the Year scholarships, as well as other individual educational awards. The Club also offers former members the ability to earn significant money towards their education by working at the Club through our Club Service program.

Teen Nights – To engage our teens in specialized learning and wellness activities, our clubs offer Friday Teen Nights on a bi-weekly basis. During these nights, teens have the whole Club to themselves and participate in group skill building games, athletic competitions, movie discussions, poetry slams, and dance activities designed to build their self confidence and sense of unity.

• Developing Positive Learning Habits

All BGCMC programs are designed to foster a love of learning in our members and we have weekly activities developed to provide members with the academic skills needed to gain academic success. Below are just a few examples of our weekly academic skill building programs:

Strategic Tutoring and Power Period – During the school year, the first few hours of our afterschool program are focused on working with members to complete their daily homework assigments. Staff and volunteers work with members on an individual basis to not only complete their daily tasks but reinforce the academic skills they have learned at school. Members are asked to identify their academic skills and teach these skills to other members of the Club. Through this, they gain confidence in their own academic abilities and give help to members who some more support. Our wellness activities during this time period are also infused with a learning component such as completing math calculations using pool balls.

Reading Challenges – Members participate in reading activities and earn incentives for developing their reading skills. The games include speed reading, book reports, oral book presentations, group reading, vocabulary recognitionm and book collages. Many of these outcomes are then presented at weekly Club meetings and Family Nights to reinforce academic success.

Recognition for School Grades – Both formally and informally, members may earn Club dollars for achieving academic success in school. When members bring in their report cards and positive grade progress is shown, staff reward Club members with Club dollars that they can then use to purchase items from our Club store.

• Special Events And Unique Opportunities

BGCMC is constantly partnering with local social service and community oriented organizations to bring the highest level of programming to our members. Listed below are just a few of our most recent partnerships. For more information on these activities, please contact a local staff representative at the Club.

Upward Bound – Through the Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County, members are able to attend the Upward Bound program hosted at California State University- Monterey Bay.   Upward Bound provides workshop sessions in the college financial aid process, the college application process, the daily student life of a college student, and ways to prepare your high school academic resume for entrance into college. The program also offers participants tours of local and California colleges and field trips designed to increase student academic skills.

CSUMB Math Program – By partnering with the School of in Information Technology and Communication Design at CSUMB, the Club has instituted a math computer games program at our Salinas Unit that will help our middle school members to build their math skills during the summer months and engage them in building their technological skills.   This program is expected to continue on into the fall when students make their way back to school and will continue to need build and advance their math skills.

Ventana WildlifeSociety – Each year, BGCMC partners with the Ventana Wildlife Society to offer meaningful experiences in nature that foster a sense of environmental stewardship in our members. Some of these programs include a weeklong nature summer camp where members are able to explore and engage with the abundant local environmental wonders, bimonthly field trips to local nature sites, and in house workshops on environmental conservation and care.

MERITO – BGCMC has partnered with MERITO (Multicultural Education for Resource Issues Threatening Oceans) on a number of initiatives for our members.   Some more recent opportunities include beach cleanups, field trips to local coastlines to learn about the dangers affecting our oceans and an upcoming digital media project designed to give a multiculutral voice to the effect that the ocean has on the lifestyle of our members.

Return of the Natives Restoration Education Project – Return of the Natives has partnered with BGCMC members on a variety of habitat restoration initiatives.   Through this partnership, members have access to a working garden at both Club sites and can participate in watershed restoration projects. This past year, our Keystone Club members planned and implemented a Global Youth Service Day initiative involving parents, community partners, staff and BGCMC members from both of our Units.

Career Extravaganza – Each spring, over 300 teens from Monterey County participate in our Career Extravaganza event.   During this event, teens attend a variety of professional development sessions by local organizational leaders and meet with over 75 industry panelists from local companies to gain insight into their career development and advancement. This event allows us to double our teen impact by partnering our time and efforts with local schools, companies and social service organizations.

State Farm Teen Marketing Project – For the past two years, BGCMC teens have been engaged in a massive digital media advocacy campaign that has reached over 10,000 people in Monterey County. In partnership with the State Farm organization, our teens our have delivered three simple yet powerful messages throughout Monterey County as a vehicle for increasing access to higher education and closing the achievement gap.   These three messages are (1) “youth are assets, not liabilities,” (2) “staying out of trouble is NOT enough,” and (3) “a college education should be a right, not a privilege.” They have done this by completing four of their seven predetermined project outcomes including designing, creating and distributing hundreds of teen marketing posters using Adobe Photoshop, developing a digital media video using ImpactANation software, participating in a local television interview, and setting up multiple outreach booths as local community events. By the end of spring 2010, participants will design and distribute a press release using local media outlets, distribute a radio public service announcement, and plan, create, and manage a Youth Rally event to celebrate the major messages of the project.

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