02-1203_BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF CAPISTRANO VALLEY_Applicant Letter 05 AA
BOYS & GIR.LS CLUBS II
OF CAPISTRANO VALLEY
Boys and Girls Clubs
of Capistrano Valley
One Via Positiva
San Juan Capistrano,CA 92675 ( /r
Tel 949.240.7898
Fax 949.240.7308
December 3, 2002
City Council � PM
City of San Juan Capistrano t�?o
RE: PROPOSED TEEN CENTER EXPANSION TO THE EXISTING BOYS &
GIRLS CLUBS OF CAPISTRANO VALLEY AT 1 VIA POSITIVA I (�
Dear San Juan Capistrano City Council,
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley is in the process of doing a feasibility study
for a privately funded teen center expansion project.
The Teen Center would accommodate teens 13 through 18 years of age and also provide
after school teen programs and services. Programs would consist of tutoring and
homework help, social recreation, the arts, mentoring, health and physical education,
leadership activities, and field trips just to name a few.
Through discussions with teens at the club and the Youth Advisory Council,teens feel
and say that there isn't a place for teens in the surrounding communities. Teens want a
place where they can go with other teens and be involved with positive programs and
positive adult role models. A place they can call theirs and where there are no younger
kids under 13 years of age. Boys & Girls Clubs across America have come to realize that
about around 14 to 15 years of age teens start to leave the club because they have out
grown the club, and they no longer see themselves as boys and girls like our name refers.
They now see themselves as young adults and do not want to be around the younger kids.
Clubs around the country and with support from corporations like Taco Bell and the Gap
are getting their teens back by opening up teen centers and teens are staying at the center
through high school and out of trouble. Financial support from the City of San Juan
Capistrano, Dana Point, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America has enabled us to expand
teen programs and outreach. To date we are serving about 50 teens a day and our teen
room is getting smaller.
As our elementary and middle school age membership continues to grow, the club needs
this facility expansion to retain our teenage members.
r n 2002
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The teen center would be a building connected to the city gymnasium and the club with
an entrance for teens only. It would have a staff office, lounge area, social recreation
area, computers, music room,kitchen,multipurpose room, women's and men's
bathroom, workout room, library, breakout room, and a storage room.
The teen center hours would be approximately 4:OOPM until 8:OOPM Monday through
Thursday and on Friday night until 11:00 or 12:OOPM.
To date,there has been an excellent blending of multigenerational usages at the Boys &
Girls Club. In fact, seniors have taken advantage of the Boys & Girls Club computer
center during the daytime hours. This effective balance of multi-generational use issues
has been developed through excellent joint cooperative efforts between the City and Boys
& Girls Club staff. The Boys & Girls Club would like to continue and expand these
opportunities with the use of the teen center.
At the heart of this is our teen development strategy in which our club programs and
services promote and enhance the development of teens by instilling:
A Sense of Competence—the feeling there is something teens can do and do well.
A Sense of Usefulness—the opportunity to do something of value for other people.
A Sense of Belonging—a setting where an individual knows he or she has a place and
where he or she "fits" and is accepted.
A Sense of Power or Influence—a chance to be heard and to influence decisions.
When this strategy is fully implemented, the self-esteem of teens is enhanced and an
environment is created which helps them achieve their full potential.
In closing, I would like to express my appreciation to the active and insightful
participation of your Community Services Director Al King who has helped us blend all
the many points of consideration.
Sincerely,
James Littlejohn
Executive Director
Cc: George Scarborough, City Manager
Al King, Community Services Director