Education and Career Development
These programs help youth create aspirations for the future, providing opportunities for career exploration and educational enhancement.
Power Hour. Making Minutes Count provides Club professionals with strategies, activities, resources and information to create an engaging homework help and tutoring program that encourages Club members ages 6-12 and 13-18 to become self-directed learners. The Power Hour materials provide practical tips and Club best practices for recognition and incentives, behavior management, volunteer recruitment and training, collaboration with other organizations and use of technology and the Internet. The JCPenny Afterschool Fund sponsors Power Hour: Making Minutes Count.
Career Launch encourages Club Members ages 13-18 to assess their skills and interests, explore careers, make sound educational decisions and prepare to join our nation's ever changing work force. Club staff or volunteers can use the Career Exploration Quick Reference Guide to work with teens individually or in small groups to build their job-search skills and job readiness. Mentoring and job shadowing opportunities for Club teens and training for Club staff round out the program. The Gap Foundation sponsors CareerLaunch.
Project Learn reinforces the skills and knowledge young people learn at school during the hours they spend at the Club. This program 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. Club staff create opportunities for these high-yielding learning activities, which include leisure reading, writing activities, discussions with knowledgeable adults, helping others, homework help, tutoring, and games that encourage cognitive skills.
Money Matters promotes financial responsibility and independence among Club members ages 13 to 18. Particpants learn how to manage a checking account, budget, save and invest, start small businesses, and pay for college.