MILITARY LIFE
SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE: All children of active-duty, Guard and reserve service members can take advantage of Boys & Girls Clubs programs like Mission: Youth Outreach, where they experience high-quality programming and caring mentors.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA: 30 YEARS OF MILITARY PARTNERSHIP
Help your children meet new people, try ON INSTALLATION new things and have fun with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Since 1991, the military services have worked with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (bgca.org/about-us/military) to provide children between ages of 6 and 18 access to Boys & Girls Clubs or Boys & Girls Club-affiliated youth centers in all 50 states and 16 countries worldwide. Whether you are active duty, reserves or National Guard, Boys & Girls Clubs offers free memberships to traditional clubs for geographically dispersed military. Through Mission: Youth Outreach, your child can be involved with high-quality programming (bgca.org/programs/all-programs) and caring mentors. Additional fees may apply for Boys & Girls Clubs as well as programs offered at installation youth centers.
The clubs and affiliated youth centers provide:
- A solid support network that offers a sense of belonging
- Ongoing relationships with caring adults
- A safe and healthy environment to develop lifelong skills
ON INSTALLATION
Installation youth centers worldwide are affiliated with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. In addition to their own unique programming, youth centers offer many of the same programs as traditional Boys & Girls Clubs and are available to more than 450,000 military children. This continuity of programming, such as the Youth of the Year (www.militaryonesource.mil/products/military-youth-of-the-year-fact-sheet-296) and Keystone Clubs (www.bgca.org/programs/character-leadership/keystone) for leadership development, help youth make smooth transitions from installation to installation. Your children and teens can participate in national events and volunteer on the installation or in the surrounding community — in the same clubs and activities — regardless of installation.
OFF INSTALLATION
Families located off installation can also participate in the fun. Active-duty, National Guard and reserve children can attend a local Boys & Girls Club (bgca.org/get-involved/find-a-club) for free. That means your children have the same opportunities as on-installation families, with the same benefits and a chance to partake in entertaining, character-building programs.