Helping Youth Grow Physically and Emotionally
Health & Life Skills programs encourage youth to develop healthy habits as well as learn how to make positive choices and take personal responsibility for their actions. Our initiatives promote more than just physical wellbeing – they also focus on emotional wellbeing, including friendships, family relationships, school and career success, and mental health.
Much of our programming draws from Social-Emotional Learning, which allows Club youth to develop self-management and interpersonal skills in the context of a safe, caring, well-managed and engaging environment.
Nutrition
Every young person should be equipped to make healthy nutrition decisions resulting in positive social, emotional and physical well-being. Boys & Girls Club of Collier County provides healthy meals and snacks to children during out-of-school time, fulfilling a critical need when children are not in school. These programs provide a valuable resource to individuals with the greatest need. For instance, 99% percent of Bolch campus members qualify for free or reduced-price school lunches. For many children, these may be the only nutritious meals they enjoy on a normal day. Especially during the summer, the Club’s Nutrition program serves a critical need in our community.
UPS Road Code
UPS Road Code uses trained UPS employee volunteer instructors to teach UPS Road Code’s safe driving techniques to help teens “Drive Change.” The program focuses on different safety principles, from basic instruction to the consequences of risky behaviors such as talking on cell phones, texting or drinking while driving. The program’s driving simulators test teens’ safe driving knowledge using a computer screen featuring interactive animation, a steering wheel, and life-like gas and brake pedals.
Junior Men & Women of Initiative
Through this innovative program for Club members ages 12 through 15, youth learn to develop a positive sense of self, master emotions, behave appropriately on social media, sustain positive friendships and relationships, and take charge of choices. Through class discussions and activities focusing on topics like goal setting, bullying, peer pressure, personality types and career interests, middle school-aged Club members gain an understanding of themselves, set sights on their futures and know how to get there. The Junior Women of Initiative program is generously funded by the Women’s Foundation of Collier County.
Money Matters
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.