Overall Program Winner for State of Alabama

Power Hour is our required academic success program offered Monday through Thursday. Members receive homework assistance, tutoring, and individualized support to help strengthen their academic skills and achieve success in school.

Project Learn extends learning beyond the classroom through high-yield educational activities that reinforce key academic skills. By fostering collaboration among Club staff, parents, and school personnel, the program helps create a strong support system for student success. 

SMART Moves (Skills Mastery and Resistance Training) prevention/education program addresses problems such as drug and alcohol use.  More than simply emphasizing a "Say No" message, the program teaches young people how to say no and decision making. The ultimate goal: to promote abstinence from substance abuse through the practice of responsible behavior.  

SMART Girls is a health, fitness, prevention, and self-esteem program designed specifically for girls. Building on the foundation of SMART Moves, the program encourages healthy attitudes, positive decision-making, and confidence-building skills. Through engaging discussions and activities, girls learn to develop healthy lifestyles, strengthen self-esteem, and build the skills needed to reach their full potential.

 Triple Play is a health and wellness program that promotes healthy living and active learning throughout the Club experience. Through fitness activities, nutrition education, and social-emotional development, members learn to make healthy choices, build positive relationships, and develop habits that support lifelong well-being. 

 Arts & Crafts provides members with hands-on opportunities to explore creativity and self-expression through a variety of art projects and activities. Members work with different materials and techniques to develop fine motor skills, build confidence, and bring their ideas to life. The program encourages imagination, patience, and pride in completing individual and group projects in a fun, supportive environment. 

 Coaching A Better Reader is a 6-week early literacy program designed to help young learners in 1st grade build strong reading skills and confidence through guided practice and parent involvement. This program helps children strengthen reading fundamentals while giving parents tools to support learning at home.

Our Summer Literacy Program includes Short the Squirrel activities and is designed to encourage members to continue building their reading skills throughout the summer. Literacy lessons will take place throughout the summer. During the first two weeks of the program, most members will be assessed using the STARR assessment to help determine reading levels and track growth. Members are encouraged to read both at the Club and at home and to keep up with their reading log. We finish the program with an end-of-summer celebration to recognize and celebrate our top readers.

 The Kidz Café is run by Jr. Leader members as part of their hands-on leadership experience within the Club. Through this program, members learn practical money management, organizational, and customer service skills in a real-world setting. They take responsibility for stocking inventory, managing sales, and operating daily activities of the café. Members also learn how to handle and track money earned, build teamwork and leadership skills, and make decisions about how proceeds are used. Funds generated are reinvested back into the Club for supplies and improvements, and are also used to support community initiatives and local nonprofit organizations through acts of giving back. 

 The ARTS Program provides members with hands-on opportunities to explore and develop their creativity through a variety of performing arts experiences. Current offerings include guitar, bucket drumming, piano, violin, choir, theater, and dance. Members learn foundational skills, build confidence, and have opportunities to perform and showcase their talents. As the program continues to grow, additional classes will be added based on member interest and community demand, ensuring a well-rounded and engaging arts experience for all participants. 

Our STEM Mentoring Program consists of 24 members and 6 mentors from the community. The overall goal of STEM Mentoring is to positively impact the social development and academic achievement of youth ages 6-10. STEM Mentoring consists of fun, hands-on activities, group projects, and multimedia connections that engage mentors and mentees in a variety of STEM topics, with a particular focus on conservation.  

Every child has the opportunity to participate in sports and stay active through structured Club programming. Flag football, basketball, and soccer are offered as in-house teams where members build skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship in a supportive environment. Throughout the year, occasional sports clinics provide additional instruction and exposure to new skills and activities. As interest grows, additional sports offerings are added based on member demand to ensure programs continue to meet the needs of youth in the community.

 The IM Healthy program, developed in partnership with the Michael Phelps Foundation, promotes water safety, physical activity, and healthy lifestyles through fun, structured learning. Combined with swim lessons, the program helps members build confidence in the water while learning essential swimming skills and safety practices. Participants also engage in activities that emphasize goal setting, perseverance, nutrition, and overall well-being, encouraging healthy habits both in and out of the pool. 

Our Beekeeping Program gives teens a hands-on look at how bees work, why they matter, and what it takes to care for a hive. Members learn about hive maintenance, honey production, safety, and the important role pollinators play in our environment. The program also teaches responsibility, patience, and teamwork while giving kids an experience they likely wouldn’t get anywhere else in our community. 

Our Garden Program gives members the chance to get their hands dirty while learning where food comes from and how to grow it themselves. Members help plant, water, and care for a variety of vegetables including squash, zucchini, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, okra, and more throughout the year. The program teaches responsibility, patience, teamwork, and healthy eating habits while giving kids the pride of watching something they planted grow from the ground up. 

 Our Woodworking Program gives members the opportunity to learn hands-on building skills in a safe and creative environment. Members have built projects such as birdhouses, planters, and welcome signs while learning how to properly use tools, measure, sand, assemble, and paint their work. The program helps build confidence, patience, problem-solving skills, and pride in creating something with their own hands.  

The Podcasting Program at the Teen Center gives members hands-on experience in media production and storytelling. Teens learn how to plan, record, and edit podcasts while developing skills in communication, teamwork, and digital literacy. The program encourages creativity and confidence as members share their ideas, discuss topics that matter to them, and produce content in a real-world studio setting.

The Music Production class at the Teen Center gives members hands-on experience in modern music creation inside a full recording studio. Teens learn the basics of beat making, recording, mixing, and sound engineering while exploring their creativity and developing technical skills. The program builds confidence, teamwork, and self-expression as members create original music and learn the process from concept to finished production.

The Driving Simulator at the Teen Center provides members with a safe, hands-on introduction to real-world driving skills. Teens practice essential skills such as road awareness, decision-making, and vehicle control in a controlled, risk-free environment. The simulator helps build confidence and reinforces safe driving habits while exposing members to real-life scenarios they may encounter on the road.

 Youth of the Month/Year recognizes members who demonstrate outstanding character, leadership, and commitment to personal growth. Each month, youth are selected based on their attendance, attitude, academic effort, and involvement in Club programs. From these honorees, one Youth of the Year is chosen to represent the Club at higher levels of recognition. The program celebrates achievement, encourages positive behavior, and highlights role models among peers.