Pre-Teen Activities
The Minot AFB Youth Center is an affiliate of the Boys and Girls Club of America and has an ongoing partnership with 4-H. Youth Programs at Minot AFB strives to offer the best in the wholesome and worthwhile leisure time activities for the family members of active duty, retired military and civilian employees of the base. Parent participation is highly encouraged and any volunteer for sports activities or from someone with expertise in a specific field is always welcome.
We provide activities that help youth develop a sense of usefulness, belonging, competence and influence by implementing BGCA core components and 4-H curriculum. Our programs and activities are designed to inspire and enable young people to realize their full potential with recreational and educational opportunities.
Our staff take pride in planning daily activities to meet the individual and group interests of pre-teens and teens. Our facility is full of examples of the work of youth and of projects and programs they have participated in. Activities focus on character and leadership development, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation, and education and career development. Regular activities include field trips, pre-teen late night events, specialty camps, dances, instructional classes, clinics, and more.
Moving to Minot?
If you and your family are moving to Minot we would love to connect with you and prepare your pre-teen for the transition! Feel free to fill out the Youth Sponsorship Packet and email the completed forms to 5SVS.YOUTH@us.af.mil so we can connect before you arrive.
Open Recreation Program
Youth ages 9-18, still attending school, are encouraged to take part in our Open Recreation Program. Regular activities include billiards, air hockey, roller skating, arts and crafts, board games, basketball and other sports. Many other special programs are planned throughout the year to include STEM, life skills, interpersonal skills, the arts, career skills, specialty camps and other areas that interest the youth.
Members of Open Recreation can use their membership cards to check out equipment and receive discounts on special events and camps. The Youth Center has a basketball court, board game area, arts & crafts, quiet area, construction area, snack bar and homework area and a life skills area that are available for daily use.
Membership Details:
Membership is renewed each October and is good until 30 September of the following year. Membership is $30 per year. A month constitutes the 1st through the 28th, 29th, 30th, or 31st of each month and not determined by weeks that combine months. Non-members pay $1 per day for a guest pass. Current immunization records are required for members and for recurring guests.
Pre-Teen Programs
Power Hour (Homework Club)
Power Hour: Making Minutes Count helps Club members ages 9-18 achieve academic success by providing homework help, tutoring and high-yield learning activities and encouraging members to become self-directed learners.
Torch Club
Torch Clubs are chartered, small-group leadership and service clubs for boys and girls ages 11-13. A Torch Club is a powerful vehicle through which Club staff can help meet the special character development needs of younger adolescents at a critical stage in their development. Torch Club members learn to elect officers and work together to implement activities in four areas: service to Club and community, education, health and fitness and social recreation. Torch Club meets weekly at the Youth Center.
The Arts
Programs in this area enable youth to develop their creativity and cultural awareness through knowledge and appreciation of the visual arts, crafts, performing arts and creative writing.
Health and Life Skills Club. Programs in this area 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. Art programming includes: BGCA Imagemakers photography program, BGCA National Fine Arts Program, BGCA Digital Arts and various 4H based topics.
Education and Career
Programs in this core program area enable youth to become proficient in basic educational disciplines, apply learning to everyday situations and embrace technology to achieve success in a career. Career and Education programming include: Career Launch, Money Matters, DIY STEM, Brain Gain, Project Learn, and various 4H based topics.
Health and Life Skills
Programs in this core program area provide youth with the skills that they will need as they develop into adults and information about living a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Health and Life Skills programming includes Cybersafety, SMART moves, Triple Play, Passport to Manhood, SMART Girls, and various 4H based topics. Passport to Manhood promotes and teaches responsibility in boys ages 8-17. SMART Girls is a small-group health, fitness, prevention/education and self-esteem enhancement program designed to meet the developmental needs of girls ages 9-12 and 13-17.
Sports/Fitness/Recreation
This core area provide youth with an outlet to exercise both their minds and bodies. Youth participate in sports and fitness themed programming that also touches upon hydration, nutrition and growth and development. Programming in this area includes: Triple Play, National Fitness Competition, Play Breaks, and locally developed programs.
4-H Northern Lights
For members age 9 – 18, the aim is to increase young people’s opportunities to have fun while developing lifelong skills through experiential learning in safe, healthy, enriching environments. We meet weekly and save our projects to enter into “Achievement Days”!