Program areas at BGCNW
Bgcnw youth development includes early childhood education program which for more than 35 years has prepared children to successfully acclimate and perform in kindergarten with smiles. The program is designed to expose all children to a structured preschool setting while providing a few developmentally delayed and or disabled preschoolers with early intervention services. The creative curriculum for children ages 3 to 5 focuses around specific goals, including cognitive and language development; there is one dedicated classroom to bilingual learning.the curriculum is theme-based and includes reading stories, hands-on activities, and discussion centered on particular themes. The program runs throughout the year, with a full-day program offering early drop-off and late pick-up. It is taught by early childhood educators, who allow the children to explore and participate in hands-on activities to help them develop a foundation and love for learning. Students have the opportunity to learn from one another in a peer-mediated, age-appropriate setting. The inclusion program is jointly run by arc of Westchester children's school for early development.during fiscal 2022, arc teachers worked alongside Club staff, providing the arc children with the support they need to function in an integrated classroom setting with the Club's typically developing students. The preschool provided support for the children with special needs and all therapies are done within the classroom, such as speech, occupational and physical therapies so all children benefit.the program supports children's cognitive development through observation, discovery, exploration, and representation. Children connect experiences and use important process skills. The curriculum promotes pro-social behavior by reinforcing that the children play well with others, recognize the feelings of others and respond appropriately. In addition to the interactive nature of the creative curriculum, the preschool also includes an on-site learn to swim program where preschoolers have swim lessons at least twice a week, developmentally appropriate classroom activities, a gardening program, a physical education program, and music time, among many other programs. Hot, nutritious lunches and healthy snacks are prepared daily on-site for all preschoolers.many of our most influential community and business leaders started at bgcnw early childhood educational program. The majority of our youth of the year finalists attended the bgcnw ece.fun Club and teen programming are based upon a nationally recognized, successful youth development model by Boys & Girls clubs of america. Having the benefit of 83 years of program experience led by the very best youth professionals the bgcnw team compliments the bgca programming including resources from neighboring schools, educational centers, and youth professionals. The Club key differentiator includes advocacy and community leadership which is applied to all programming. Preschool children prepare capes for children in the hospital so the patients can feel like superheroes and supported by neighbors, middle school members work on sustainability projects to educate peers and the community on the importance of being advocates of the environment. Keystone members speak before local state and national leaders regarding impactful legislation for the Club and outside communities. While always giving back to their communities. Club participants consistently demonstrate increased attendance and graduation rates, confidence and academic achievement, improved physical and mental wellness, avoidance of risky behavior, improved leadership, engagement in community service, and improvement in homework quality, completion, and grades.fun Club and teen programs are designed to help foster young people's character, personal growth, and leadership skills and to encourage community service while providing robust academic, wellness, and workforce development support:(1) education and career development - power hour homework, tutoring, project learn academic strategies, stride academy computer-based program, learning centers two supervised learning centers for grades k-5 and grades 6-8; brain gain read - expanded learning opportunities in the summer to youth grades 1-4; college quest; money matters and financial literacy. (2) character and leadership development - torch clubleadership/service Club, liberty keystone Club leadership, "youth of the month" award, youth for unity, youth of the year, keystone, s.m.a.r.t. Leaders; s.m.a.r.t. Girls, passport to manhood, smart moves, street smart; friday nights events. (3) physical fitness programming - physical fitness education program, sports clubs, leagues, triple play games, soccer, lacrosse, yoga, track, cheerleading, fencing, basketball, martial arts, dance, weight training. (4) health and life skills programming - healthy habits nutrition, cultural enrichment initiative, mentoring; workforce development; wellness initiative; meditation.the brilliant diverse creative intelligent kids are the unique magic of the Club. Approximately 63% of the fun Club members are hispanic, 12% black, 8% asian/multiracial and 18% white; 35-40% are esl students.as a result of participation in our fun Club and teen programs the following are outcome highlights:100% of participants increased reading, writing, math, and science knowledge/abilities;- 100% graduated high school on time and continued to college technical school and or the military;- 100% of participants developed college/career aspirations;- 80% expressed an interest in exploring stem careers;- 97% of esl Club participants learned to speak, read and write english more quickly;- 95-100% of members have a more positive opinion of physical fitness, good nutrition, and what constitutes healthy living;- 100% of Club members exercise at least four hours weekly;- 100% had improved attendance at school;- 85% of participants report they are interacting more positively with family members and peers and are overall engaged in healthy relationships;- 100% of participants engage in community service through the Club;- 95% of participants developed a positive attitude toward learning and knowledge;- 90% of teen participants were better able to set personal and academic goals;- 95% of teen participants acquired employment readiness skills and experiences, including career mentoring and work opportunities.
The summer adventure camp is for children entering grades k-9. This program is licensed by the Westchester county department of health, the summer program is a full-day extension of the fun Club and teen programming including essential academic supports to ensure kids don't compromise progress over the summer. The same quality staff and activities are provided from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm with early morning drop off and after camp stay late from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm.activities include: daily instructional swim sessions, theater, coding, dance, cooking, a multitude of sports, art, writing, brain gain, book nook, book buddies, sewing, game time, digital arts, stem, on-site petting zoo, water slides and other entertainment and educational programming ie, build a boat will it float program. Hot nutritious lunch and snacks are served. Healthy camp intramurals and shows take place throughout the summer. Our teen leadership program continues throughout the summer whereby our counselors work half day with their groups and then have afternoon programming including, workforce development, mentoring, college quest, financial literacy, community leadership activities, and mentoring on-site both peer to peer and younger campers.
The aquatics program includes a learn to swim program, an adult masters program, and a nationally acclaimed bgcnw marlins swim team.competitive swimming is a pathway to secondary education. Over 52% of the swim team identify as non-white. Being a competitive bgcnw marlins swim team athlete, maintaining a strong academic record, and consistently giving back to the community make the marlin swimmers excellent university candidates. In order to ensure swimmers were able to provide qualifying times the team was one of the few clubs in the country that ran swim meets.the Club opened its doors and pool time to outside swimmers so they could train and apply to university. One swimmer qualified to compete in the olympics due to access to a safe swimming environment.our learn-to-swim program team has taught more than 65,000 children to be water safe. All members learn to swim, early childhood education, fun Club teen members, and summer adventure participants. The bgcnw marlins swim team supports over 277 elite athletes and the team has held its national champion title of bgca national competition for 23 years. We offer a year-round swim program for athletes of various ages and ability levels. Through a developmentally appropriate program progression and a commitment to athlete education, our professional staff offers an elite youth sports experience to all of our athletes. We aspire to provide our athletes with the tools needed to pursue their individual goals in life and in the sport of swimming while always giving back to community. Marlin swimmers are aggressively recruited from the most prestigious us college swim programs and often are scholarship recipients. Marlins consistently rank among the top 100 programs nationally. The 12-month program produces quality athletes who strive for excellence both in and out of the water.our swim teachers are the finest in nys and are 100% committed to safety and ensuring that children are comfortable and secure when learning to swim. We have unique techniques and methods that have been honed for more than 50 years. The pool facility is state of the art with new hvac equipment and distribution systems providing the best air and water quality and water temperature is 82 which is ideal even for the little tadpoles.we are a us masters swimming team (usms) team. We welcome swimmers 18+ of all abilities to join us in our 8-lane, 25-yard pool. Coaches are on deck each practice to provide feedback on stroke mechanics while guiding swimmers through a structured workout. Competitions are optional and encouraged.