Educational Partner
Education and Career Development programs enable youth to become proficient in basic educational disciplines, apply learning to everyday situations and embrace technology to achieve success in a career. Enjoyable and educational programs and activities offer members an opportunity to participate in cooperative learning groups, field trips and hands-on experiences.
Accelerated Reading
Our Accelerated Reading (AR) program helps kids improve their reading skills and encourages the love of reading through daily reading practice.Upon enrollment, members are required to take a Standardized Test for Assessment in Reading (STAR), which indicates a basic reading skill range at which the member is most likely to succeed. Students are then encouraged to select a book of their choice within their range, read the book and take a comprehension quiz utilizing a web-based reading enrichment program developed by Renaissance Learning, Inc. Staff and volunteers are always available for help and encouragement!
AR is an incentive-based program which rewards members for reaching their reading goals and encourages them to continue reading throughout the year. We track their reading and growth throughout the year, and adjust accordingly when needed. The efforts and commitment of our AR members are celebrated at the annual Learning Center and Accelerated Reader Awards Dinner every June.
Project Learn
This strategy is based on research demonstrating that students do much better in school when they spend their non-school hours engaged in fun, but academically beneficial, activities. Through Project Learn, Club staff use all the areas and programs in the Club to create opportunities for these high-yield learning activities, which include leisure reading, writing activities, discussions with knowledgeable adults, helping others, homework help, tutoring and games (such as Scrabble), that develop young people’s cognitive skills.
STEM Program
Members learn the fundamentals of STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. From hypothetical experiments to making ice cream and robots, students involved in STEM enjoy all levels and aspects of scientific exploration.
POWER HOUR: Making Minutes Count
A positive academic environment has been created to help members succeed in school. Staff works closely with youngsters to encourage them to complete daily homework assignments, receive tutoring help and participate in other education-enhancing activities. The special POWER HOUR program is designed to raise academic proficiency of members ages 6 to 12.
My.Future
Members learn computer skills including word processing, spreadsheets and databases. Access to technology levels the “virtual playing field,” giving youth of all ages and circumstances the same resources and skills to help them perform better in school and, eventually, the workplace.
NetSmartz
NetSmartz teaches and reinforces the skills, knowledge and attitudes supporting safe and ethical use of the Internet. In age-appropriate modules, members learn to take advantage of Internet resources, while minimizing online risks.
JOBReady! (Ages 15-18)
Young people begin to develop the skills needed to find a job or internship and to be successful in the world of work.
Goals for Growth (Ages 8-12)
Club members learn the skills needed for setting and achieving their own personal, education and career goals.
Story Hour
What a better way to infuse youngsters with the joys of reading than to open a book and tell them a story? Our guest storytellers share their favorite popular stories and demonstrate enthusiasm for reading with Club members of all ages.