The Club attracts and guides young people with core programs in five areas:
- Character and Leadership Development, emphasizing interpersonal relationship-building, self-image and contribution to the community.
- Education and Career Development, teaching basic educational disciplines and technology.
- Health and Life Skills, encouraging goal-setting and self-sufficiency.
- The Arts, nurturing creativity, cultural awareness and appreciation for the arts.
- Sports, Fitness and Recreation, developing physical and social skills, stress management and appreciation for the environment.
Character & Leadership Development
Programs in Character and Leadership Development empower youth to support and influence their Club and community, sustain meaningful relationships with others, develop a positive self-image, participate in the democratic process and respect their own and others' cultural identities.Education & Career Development
Programs in Education and Career Development enable youth to become proficient in basic educational disciplines, apply learning to everyday situations and embrace technology to achieve success in a career.Health & Life Skills
Programs in Health and Life Skills develop young people's capacity to engage in positive behaviors that nurture their own well-being, set personal goals and live successfully as self-sufficient adults.The Arts
Programs in The Arts enable youth to develop their creativity and cultural awareness through knowledge and appreciation of the visual arts, crafts, performing arts and creative writing.Sports, Fitness & Recreation
Programs in Sports, Fitness and Recreation develop fitness, positive use of leisure time, skills for stress management, appreciation for the environment and social skills.Boys & Girls Clubs are unique. All programs used at the local level have been tested by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and are proven to work! The national organization produces a "how to" manual to guide staff and volunteers through program implementation. Club staff will also participate in training for all areas of program development and youth management. The programs adapt to local needs and expand according to the number of children in each club.
The strength of Boys & Girls Club programs lies in the quantity and quality of time devoted to kids. The organization is dedicated to helping children build confidence and skills to become strong individuals who contribute to society, and the Club believes the way to do this is by spending time with kids. Studies have shown that membership in the Club has proven results: Club members watch less television, perform better on assessment tests and have exceptional attendance records.
Ultimately, Boys & Girls Clubs seek to instill children with a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and empowerment, realizing that no child, regardless of circumstance, is beyond hope.
Building for Tomorrow
The Village People Youth Committee is totally committed to establishing a Boys and Girls Club for West Salem and the surrounding area. With our 4 years invested in research, an independent feasibility study done by University of Wisconsin La Crosse, and a community that believes in the value of investing in our youth, we move ahead confident that the Boys and Girls Club of West Salem will be successful. The Club will become a key element in providing a place where kids will feel safe and where they will find a sense of belonging. Self-worth will be nurtured in each individual as they discover the potential they each possess!
The Village People Youth Committee believes in strong fiscal and executive management skills to help the club grow to its full potential. Therefore, 20 percent of all dollars raised will go to an endowment fund to help ensure the future of the Boys and Girls Club for West Salem and the surrounding area. The West Salem Club will have minimal membership fees and will assist those in need to make membership available to all children who want to belong.
