Langley Youth Programs wins Program of the Year

by Airman 1st Class Derek Seifert
633rd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

8/13/2015 - JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. -- The Langley Youth Programs at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia continued their winning streak upon being named Program of the Year by Boys and Girls Club of America while competing against all military installations and BGCAs throughout the Virginia and Washington D.C. area in 2015.

This year marks the program's third victory since 2013 at the local, state and regional levels of the competition.

Each year, youth programs, which are affiliated with the Boys and Girls Club of America and 4-H, submit a package to enter the program's children into five individual categories, including character and leadership development, education and career development, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation, and health and wellness.

Packets are submitted in the spring and then reviewed by a board of members who vote and select the award winners. The winners are, then, announced at the State Level Youth of the Year Competition.

"It feels excellent," said Shanda Allmond-Misse, Langley Youth Programs chief. "Seeing the team pull together and make changes and adapt to new policies and turn around and win awards. It helped the staff see the job they were doing for the kids was amazing."

Youth Programs serve 120 kids enrolled into their three services. The center also provides summer and holiday camps.

"The purpose of this center is for us to take care of children of active duty members, their families, contractors, and retirees," said Allmond-Misse. "So [they] can focus on the mission."

The youth program offers three services; youth, school-age, and sports programs, which include several activities and services for different age groups.

"The [awards] gives us the idea we're on the right track and inspires the staff to do more and give more to the program," said Allmond-Misse.

The youth program is open to children ages 6 to 18, offering open recreation time in the gym, video games, instructional classes, pool tables and the opportunity to relax.
The school-aged program also provides care for children between 5 and 12 before and after school.

"These [staff members] become the second parent during deployments," said Allmond-Misse. " We become the second parent during a divorce. We become the safety net when things are going on at home or things are going on at school. We are the third party the kids can come talk to."

The sports program offers children between the ages 5 and 18 an opportunity to participate in baseball, flag football, wrestling, cheerleading and many others depending on the season.