Core Program Areas

Our children have the opportunity to participate in activities spanning a common set of six core program areas:

[1] The Arts
[2] Character & Leadership Development
[3] Education & Career Development

[4] Health & Life Skills
[5] Sports, Fitness & Recreation
[6] Technology

• 1. The Arts

  Children take part in a wide range of arts activities at the clubs where they are encouraged to express talents, develop new skills, and expand individual creativity. Programs allow participation for every child with an interest in the arts at every developmental level. Programs offered include: Image Makers National Photography Program, National Fine Arts Exhibit, Dance Academy at YAA, and the Youth Arts Academy.

• 2. Character & Leadership Development

  Leadership skills evolve through trust, cooperation and decision-making practice. Leadership programs at BGC San Dieguito promote democratic decision-making by teaching members to listen carefully, discuss issues respectfully, resolve conflicts, and arrive at a consensus. Children learn to help others through community service by identifying needs within their own neighborhoods, and planning and running service projects.

  Leadership programs also foster personal initiative as youth organize activities for younger members of the clubs and carry out fundraising projects to make programs at least partially self-supporting. Programs include: After School, Adventure Camps, Keystone for teens, and Youth of the Year.

• 3. Education & Career Development

  Less than half of all American high school students can read, write, and compute well enough to succeed in the current job market. Education programs at BGC San Dieguito form the foundation of our efforts to prepare youth for productive and responsible lives. Through education, we promote children’s academic success and encourage them to explore career options.

  BGC San Dieguito programs also stress cooperation, teamwork, and effective communication, which help youth cultivate the qualities that are essential for workplace participation and community involvement. Programs include: After School, Adventure Camps, Carmel Valley Montessori School, College Nights, Project Learn, Power Hour, and Money Matters.

• 4. Health & Life Skills

  These initiatives 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. Children can come to a safe place to talk about issues that concern them. Life skills activities are often structured as discussion groups and workshops, focusing on substance abuse prevention, conflict resolution, diversity, and self-esteem.

  The groups provide a forum for reviewing interpersonal behavior, changing patterns of interaction, role-playing to learn new skills, and teaching kids about consequences. They are topic-oriented, yet flexible enough to respond to individual needs. Programs include: Passport to Manhood, SMART Girls, SMART Moves, Triple Play and the Center for a Healthy Lifestyle.

• 5. Sports, Fitness & Recreation

  Regular physical activity has long been regarded as an important component of a healthy lifestyle. Recently, this has been reinforced by new scientific evidence linking regular physical activity to a wide array of physical and mental health benefits.

  These Club programs help develop fitness, a positive use of leisure time, reduction of stress, appreciation for the environment and social and interpersonal skills. Programs include: Aquatics, Athletics, Middle School Sports, RSD Swim Team, and Triple Play.

• 6. Technology

  Our goal is to enable children to become “fluent” in the use of technology. Without opportunities to use the computer as a tool for conceptualizing and solving real-world problems, our members will increasingly be left behind in the growing competition for good jobs.