Youth Programs

The program offers a wide range of educationally enhanced programs, instructional classes, field trips and events for youth and teens 9-18 year of age on Columbus AFB. The Youth Center provides a safe and fun environment supervised by a caring and well-trained staff.

Features:

• Games and Social Recreation Activities
• Special events for families
• Educational Enhanced Programs
• Computer Lab
• Separate Teen Room for ages 13 and above
• Field Trips
• Classes such as ballet, gymnastics, martial arts & more
• Camps (Skill) during the summer

Programs:

Torch Club, Keystone Club, Power Hour, Fine Arts, Photography, Youth of the Year, Youth Sponsorship, Gardening, Smart Girls, Sports and Fitness, Lights on after School, Spring Fling, BGCA Day for Kids, Breakfast with Santa, MLK Celebration, 4-H Programs and more.

Dependents of active duty military personnel, retiree’s, DOD Civilians, NAF employees and permanent contractors are eligible for Youth Programs membership. Youths, age 3-5 may participate in those activities organized specifically for their age group. Youths 6-8 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or sibling over 16 years of age unless they are participating in an activity that includes continuous adult supervision. All youth must be registered on an AF Form 88.

Sponsorship Information Requested

Letter to Incoming Youth

Links:

Ref AFI 34-249

• Youth five years of age may not utilize the center except when participating in supervised activities.
• Youths ages 6-8 must be accompanied by a parent or a sibling of at least 16 years of age.
• Youth ages 9-12 may enter the center unaccompanied but must leave by 7:00 PM on a school night, except for supervised programs that may extend beyond 7:00 PM.
• Youth ages 13 and older may enter the center unaccompanied at any time during open recreation hours.

DoD Child Abuse Hotline: 1.877.790.1197

Who are Military & Family Life Counselors?

• Masters or Doctorate level licensed counselors
• Available at no cost to assist children, parents, and staff
• Available to provide short-term, non-medical counseling to military children and families

Our Child and Youth Military & Family Life Counselor is available to offer a wide range of support to military families to include, but not limited to:

• Providing behavioral interventions
• Modeling behavioral techniques
• Providing feedback to staff and parents
• Deployment and Reunion adjustments
• Communication and social skills
• Emotion regulation skills
• Counseling for fear, grief, and loss
• Referrals for local resources for families and children

Consent forms must be on file with the CDC or Youth Center before services can be provided. All services are private and confidential with the exception of child abuse, neglect, domestic abuse, and other duty-to-warn situations.

For questions about MFLC services, the Columbus AFB Child and Youth MFLC can be reached at 662.435.1408