FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska - Fort Wainwright teens know about service. And now, thanks to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America TeenNick Halo award, the rest of the country knows about their service.
Fort Wainwright's Youth Services program was recently named one of the eight Army sites to receive the prestigious award that merges the resources and influence of both BGCA and TeenNick (Nickelodeon) TV network.
Recognizing teens and clubs excelling in community service and leadership during 2010 and BGCA's Year of Service initiative, the award caps a year of intentional service and programming and acknowledges the teens' desire to make a difference in their community, said Megan Brown, former Wainwright Youth Services facility director and current Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation special events coordinator.
"The award recognizes the club as one that has participated in a variety of programs and events," she said. "We met the criteria BGCA set out, but we went a step above and exceeded the expectations of what we should do."
In addition to structured, curriculum-driven leadership and character-building programs like the Torch and Keystone Clubs, Youth Center teens participated in service learning projects including volunteer service at the Fairbanks Rescue Mission, Fairbanks Community Food Bank, Army Community Service events, a local cancer center and outreach to deployed Soldiers. Teens also participated in Special events like Nickelodeon's Worldwide Day of Play during which teens "unplugged" for an entire day with no electronic devices and went "old school" with games and activities. They also cleaned the Youth Center during the installation's Beautification Week and participated in the MLK, Jr. Remembrance basketball tournament and concession stand and volunteered during last summer's Ladd Army Airfield Birthday Celebration and Open House.
"The dedication of the kids and desire to be a part of service projects and to do good things is what sets them apart," Brown explained. "We had a really good group this last year. They were very motivated to help others. They wanted to stand out and make a difference."
Brown said the teens desired to be extraordinary and then followed that desire with hard work and dedication.
"Their service shows their leadership and character," she said. "They're an example for other kids."
Besides the honor of being recognized as one of the best BGCA sites in the world in terms of community service and the signage to display that will tell all who come to the center about their service focus, the effects of winning this national award will be far-reaching. The recognition provides practical resume and college application bullets for teens but will also provide continued inspiration for those who already do service learning projects and new motivation for those who have not tried it yet.
"I think some of the teens will continue serving and it will be a challenge for others to get involved. It's a golden opportunity for them," Brown said. "Boys and Girls Clubs of America is very recognized and this award will be great for their resumes and college applications."
Currently around 50 youth and teens go to the Youth Center each day and the number doubles during the summer.
"Our number one goal is to have a safe and fun place for our youth to be after school," said Molly Moore, assistant Youth Center director and acting director. "It's a structured environment for them to learn and participate in educational programs each day, participate in service learning projects and just to grow. These kids love to volunteer and just want to help with anything."
Teens at the Youth Center do not plan to rest on their laurels. Upcoming center events and projects include hosting next month's BGCA statewide Youth of the Year competition, launching an internet cafAfA and technology club, continuing volunteer service at the Fairbanks Community Food Bank and Fairbanks Rescue Mission and making baby blankets for spouses of deployed Soldiers who have babies during the deployments.
The numerous deployments affecting families all over Fort Wainwright will change the dynamic at the Youth Center, but not the focus on serving, Moore said.
"We want to help with the community outside the gates, but we also want to really focus on helping families who are affected by all the deployments this year. Anything teens can do to help their peers will really be meaningful to them," she said.
Moore said the focus on service is intentional and very important to the mission of the Youth Center. "They're teenagers," she said. "Just taking the focus off of themselves and putting it on others gives them good character and makes them well-rounded. Once you do this you kind of get addicted and helping others is an addiction that every teenager should have."
Although Brown no longer serves as the Youth Center director, she said she tries to stay connected with the center and teens and was thrilled to see that all of their hard work from last year is being recognized.
"I'm absolutely proud of them," she said. "I think anytime you can step outside yourself and be something more to the world is awesome. They have a lot of instability in their lives as military children and they have the opportunity to feel sad about their situations at times, but instead they're choosing to serve others in the midst of it. I'm just really proud of them."
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