BGCTC’s literacy program small includes group reading instruction and literacy enrichment stations to teach phonics, spelling, language structure, reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

We utilize the Sonday System reading program (a Winsor Learning, Orton Gillingham-based reading intervention curriculum) for members who have been assessed as needing focused reading support. K-8 Club members are assessed through the FastBridge Learning FAST™ reading assessment tool four times per year to track progress and growth in literacy skills.

BGCTC’s K-5 Numeracy Enrichment program serves youth at a pivotal stage where they must transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.” Activities include hands-on, multisensory math stations centered on Minnesota Academic Standards in Mathematics to help youth build math proficiency. Topics include counting and cardinality, operations and algebraic thinking, numbers and operations, measurement and data, and geometry.

BGCTC’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math) Program includes visual and performing arts to enhance appreciation for the arts including crafts, visual, performing and literary arts projects, and showcasing members’ abilities at art exhibits, talent shows, and performances at community events. We also offer a STEAM Mentoring program that brings together youth and mentors for hands-on STEAM activities with a focus on conservation, visual and performing arts, and showcasing members’ abilities at art exhibits, talent shows, and performances at community events.

Over the last few years, our organization has focused on implementing changes that drive higher quality experiences and outcomes for youth. Our program delivery model serves age-specific and foundational learning needs. Wrap-around support, including healthy snacks and meals, nutrition education, and social emotional learning are a critical component for helping youth establish a strong foundation for a healthy and successful future

BGCTC recently began utilizing the 7 Mindsets social-emotional learning curriculum, designed to promote relationship skills, self-awareness, responsible decision-making, and positive mental and emotional health. 7 Mindsets provides impactful lessons, activities, and resources for Club staff, youth, and teens to use for building a healthy life and career. Now more than ever, during the COVID-19 pandemic, this resource has been and will continue to be critical for our entire organization to learn to integrate social-emotional skills and awareness throughout everything we do.

A career exploration and mentoring program for teens ages 13-18. Activities offered in this area are designed to work at several levels, from general career exploration to actual job experiences. This program includes the Career Launch website that allows teens to take an interest survey, explore careers, identify training or college requirements, seek out financial aid and play skills-building games.

Goals for Graduation introduces Club members ages 6 to 15 to the concept of academic goal setting. In one-on-one sessions with mentors, members set achievable “Know-I-Can” goals, more challenging “Think-I-Can” goals, and yearly “Believe-I-Can” goals, each with action plans.

A program track offered to Club members in partnership with Taco Bell Foundation, as an extension of Taco Bell Foundation’s national initiative that provides tools and resources to teens while tracking their progress toward graduation and life goals.

A comprehensive program that teaches young people ages 16-18 effective job-hunting techniques, helps them develop the skills necessary to be successful on the job, and provides opportunities for career exploration. Youth learn job expectations, interview techniques, and acceptable work behavior.

This financial literacy program is designed specifically to help teens (ages 13 to 18) expand their knowledge of money management and learn the skills that lead to financial independence and well-being.

An initiative that helps youth to understand their media world and identify and develop digital interests. This project-based curriculum provides members of all ability levels a foundation of technology skills.

My.Future is supported by the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation.

Arts help young people enhance self-expression and creativity, and develop skills in crafts, visual, performing and the literary arts. Members’ abilities are showcased at art exhibits, talent shows, and performances at community events.