Get Connected - Military Children and Teens

Local programs

4-H Military Partnerships

4-H is the largest out of school youth organization in the United States with over 7 million youth members. There is Cooperative Extension staff responsible for 4-H programs in every county and city - so there's probably a 4-H program near you. Whether you live in a city, suburb or rural area, there's something for you in 4-H.

In most states, you can join 4-H if you are between the ages of 8-18. Some areas have special age-appropriate programs designed especially for younger kids. Check with your Cooperative Extension office to find out what projects and activities are available for youth your age.

American Heritage Girls (also offers a program for military families living abroad)

www.ahgonline.org

American Heritage Girls is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the mission of building women of integrity through service to God, family, community and country. Military families...take note: American Heritage Girls created the Trailblazer program to reach dedicated service families, missionary families and/or girls in geographically isolated areas.

Even though we recognize that the BEST delivery system for the AHG program is within the Troop setting, we understand that many girls and their families find themselves in unique situations. The AHG Trailblazer program is the vehicle through which we hope to accommodate those situations so that more girls can be touched by this powerful, Christ-centered ministry. For details on this program, CLICK HERE.

AWANA

www.awana.org

Awana helps churches and parents worldwide raise children and youth to know, love and serve Christ! We do this through:

Fully integrated programs for ages 2 to 18

The best evangelism tools to reach unsaved children, youth and families

Teaching that builds an enduring biblical faith

Resources bringing churches and parents together to disciple the next generation

Initial and ongoing volunteer training

Healthy mentor and peer relationships

Dynamic fun for children, teens and adults alike!

Check the website to locate an AWANA program at your local church or military chapel.

Boys and Girls Clubs of America

www.bgca.org

In every community, boys and girls are left to find their own recreation and companionship in the streets. An increasing number of children are at home with no adult care or supervision. Young people need to know that someone cares about them. Boys & Girls Clubs offer that and more. Club programs and services promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence. Boys & Girls Clubs are a safe place to learn and grow – all while having fun. They are truly The Positive Place For Kids.

Club Beyond

www.mcym.org (Military Community Youth Ministries)

Club Beyond® is the name used by MCYM to identify its ministry with military high school and middle school aged kids worldwide. Club Beyond staff and volunteers love young people and are available to journey with them through the hard challenges of adolescence, providing positive role models and exhibiting Christ-like behavior.

In addition to weekly 90 minute club meetings, Club Beyond also means retreats (usually one per semester), along with special activity nights, lock-ins, ski trips, summer camps, and work service projects. Club Beyond leaders also offer weekly Bible study sessions for those students who want to go deeper in their spiritual development and study of the Bible. All of these activities are well chaperoned, with high ratios of volunteer leaders for kids in attendance.

Good News Clubs (Child Evangelism Fellowship and Cadence International)

http://www.cefonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id

=13&Itemid=100049/

Currently over 3,400 weekly school-related Good News Clubs are held across the nation, reaching more than 119,000 students each week. Whether meeting off campus during school hours or on campus after school, these clubs provide opportunity for children in the public schools to hear the Gospel and learn truth from God's Word. Check to see if there is a Good News Club in your neighborhood or school.

Young Life

www.younglife.org/military

Although military kids walk the same school hallways as other teens, they live in a much different world. For them, being called a military "brat" is like being called a "brother" or "friend." Military brats attend four to as many as six different schools between sixth-grade and their senior year. Many move to foreign countries. Most are likely to live with only one parent while patiently enduring a six- to 18-month deployment of their other parent. In their world, uncertainty has become the only constant.

Recognizing that "reaching every kid, everywhere" includes those on military installations, Young Life Military has been ministering to military kids for almost 50 years.

Serving in the United States and 10 European and Asian countries, Young Life Military walks the halls with military teens and their families to help them face the unique and challenging aspects of military life.

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Online connection and support, activities

A Backpack Journalist

Helping military youth find their voice through writing, songwriting and photography

www.abackpackjournalist.com

A Backpack Journalist, LLC is an educational services and event support company based in Houston, Texas, providing curriculum, workshops and events for Military Youth 6-11 and 12-18 to assist them through the deployment cycle, including reintegration.

A Backpack Journalist curriculum and training on various media in an open classroom setting and mobile lab, allows military youth to express themselves and help connect with their parents/family/other youth.

Our curriculum support events for the Yellow Ribbon Program, YLEAD weekends and CAMPS, weekend retreats that support Military Youth and FRG Volunteer Symposiums.

Army FRG Kids

http://www.armyfrg.org/skins/kids/kids_home.aspx

A website for Army FRG Kids.

Army FRG Teens

http://www.armyfrg.org/skins/teens/teens_home.aspx?mode=user&AllowSSL=true

A website for Army FRG Teens.

Army FRG Tweens

http://www.armyfrg.org/skins/tweens/tweens_home.aspx

A website for Army FRG Tweens.

Military Families Near and Far (also available in Spanish)

www.familiesnearandfar.org

A place where your family can create, communicate, and stay connected. Whether your family is near or far, this website can help bring you closer together. Tools and features for pre-school children, school age children and military families.

MilitaryKidz.com

www.militarykidz.com

Provides tangible support to the children of deployed and severely injured National Guard and Military Reserve personnel through grants for enrichment activities and tutoring that nurture and sustain the children during the time a parent is away in service to our country. Get security clearance and an ID card and enjoy the activities.

MilitaryKidsConnect.org

www.militarykidsconnect.org

The Department of Defense (DoD) launched www.MilitaryKidsConnect.org for children experiencing the challenges of military deployments. The website contains informative videos, educational tools, and engaging games and activities for military kids. The site features monitored online social network forums for children to safely share their experiences with deployments.

Military Youth on the Move

Saying good-bye, finding out about your new home, moving tips

www.defenselink.mil/mtom/

This site was designed with you in mind. Maybe you’ve had to relocate a zillion times. Sometimes you’ve lived in really cool places and other times, well, maybe it wasn’t so cool. We know how difficult and stressful it can be to have to move, say goodbye to your friends, switch schools, start over and all that. So, grab a soda, get yourself comfortable and start clicking your way to your new home, your new school and your new life.

NGCYP Youniversity Mall (National Guard Child and Youth Program)

www.guardfamilyyouth.org

Our mission is to support the social, emotional, and academic needs of National Guard children and youth.

Rezilient Life (A ministry of American Bible Society and Club Beyond)

http://rezilient.americanbible.org/

Let's face it; life as a military teen isn't easy.There's always change and uncertainty, and we long for something more solid to grab hold of. Rezilient Life is your place to get a grip on some of those big questions; like friendship, family, belonging and transitions. It's a solid place, and it's specifically for you.

RezLife offers a ton of cool stuff like maps, quizzes, music and videos. Check them out!

Need a pick-me-up? Want a challenge? Sign up for a text journey and we'll send you a message each day.

With a variety of meaningful topics to choose from, each personalized journey contains stories, media, Bible passages, and questions to guide you — making God's Word relevant and personal to you. Whether it's reading verses and words, listening to audio passages, or watching a video, you can explore the eternal truths of the Bible in the way that best fits your life and helps you navigate with ReZilience.

Start your personal journey today and see where God's Word takes you.

Sisterhood of the Traveling BDUs (California)

www.sisterhoodbdus.org

Our mission is to bring together 400 girls ages 13 to 18 with immediate family members in any branch of the military in California and 100 female service members as mentors with the common purpose of boosting self esteem, growing in leadership and confidence, and uniting together in sisterly support.

Our objective for the conference is a two day event; mixer Friday night with attractions and Saturday conference with workshops, breakout sessions, and guests speakers.