Eglin AFB - Youth Center

The vision of Youth Programs is to provide a "POSITIVE PLACE FOR KIDS" and to encourage cooperation between fellow youth members; to challenge young people to be responsible for their actions, resourceful with the environment and respectful of the ideas and customs of others.

This is accomplished by offering the highest quality programs available, to the greatest 5 to 18 year old youth population in the Air Force! Professionally trained leaders display the characteristics necessary for every child to excel in the five pillars of Boys and Girls Clubs of America; Character and Leadership, Educational and Career Development, Health and Life Skills, The Arts, and Sports, Fitness and Recreation.

The Youth Center is located in the housing area at the West Gate within one mile of Eglin Elementary School. Use of the center averages approximately 200 children per day. The center provides instructional classes, sports programs, social functions and before-and-after school care. The sports program includes basketball, soccer, and cheerleading. Instructional classes are offered in Tae Kwon Do and dance. In addition to these events, the summer months' organized "drop-in" sports activities include volleyball, archery, tennis and basketball games. Our Summertime Program features Red Cross classes in babysitting, CPR and 1st aid, along with horseback riding, arts and crafts, trips, clinics and many other events. The Youth Center staff is joined by an additional 100 volunteers that lend a helping hand throughout the year.

The Before-and-After School Program and Summer Day Camp provide recreational/leisure skill programs- dramatic arts, sewing, cooking, sports and video games; academic assistance-computers, mentors, books and research materials; and clubs-bicycling, gardening, cooking and sewing. Our mission is to provide growth and development of school-age children through their out-of-school experiences. We provide a safe, supervised, healthily and age appropriate environment, thus enabling the military community to accomplish their mission, knowing their children are taken care of in a "Positive Place". All activities are offered in a cheery, clean and attractive building with a staff of dedicated personnel and a strong family atmosphere. The 36,000 square foot, world-class School Age facility was built adjacent to the Youth Center and includes an administrative area, offices, kitchen and 21 state-of-the-art classrooms. In addition, there is a stage area and section designed for indoor physical activity, as well as, enclosed outdoor play areas for climbing, jumping, running and even resting in the shade. Safety and security are number 1 at the facility, where an average of 200 children spend time each day. We want to make your child's experience in our program a positive and enjoyable one. We hope to help them build a strong self-concept, develop self-reliance and a curiosity for learning