1. Youth Center, 10788 Chapel Drive, (315) 772-6719
Issue 1, Fall-Winter, 2013
Fort Drum Youth named New York’s
Military Youth of the Year
Every year the Boys
and Girls Clubs of America
hosts a competition to
choose the Youth of the
Year. The Youth of the Year
program is BGCA’s premier
recognition program for
Club members, promoting
service to Club, community
and family, academic success, strong moral character, life goals, poise and
public speaking ability.
This is the first year that
the Military Youth of the
Year will be added to the
Boys and Girls Clubs program line up.
Ms. Elizabeth Kolodgy,
18, Daughter of Msgt. John
Kolodgy has earned the
title of New York State’s
Military Youth of the Year
for 2013.
On May 19,
2013, Elizabeth traveled to
Albany, NY to compete in
the State wide competition.
Elizabeth Kolodgy, New York State Military Youth of the
Year, Meeting Assemblyman Blackenbush at the Youth of
the Year Competition.
After winning the New
York State Military youth of
the year competition, Beth
was able to travel to the
Northeast Regional Youth
of the Year competition in
New York City. She was
able to meet youth from all
over the region as well as
several
representatives
from BGCA.
This year, the program
will be bigger than ever!
Youth will meet weekly
with an advisor to prepare
materials, speak at events
to practice public speaking, and be an active part
in their community. If you
would like to participate
please stop by the Youth
Center!
In This Issue
School is in session!
Do you have a plan for
how you are going to
succeed? Did you know
you can get FREE homework help in the YC
Learning lab? Every day
from 2:30-5:30 there is an
experienced staff member available to help you
with all your homework
needs! We even have
games and prizes during
power hour from 3:004:00. Stop by for SAT
prep, Regent prep, help
studying for your drivers
exam,
college
essays,
bringing up your grades,
or anything else you
need!
2
Staff Spotlight
2
Haunted House
2
Holiday Events
3
Midnight Sports Report
3
Rhythms
3
Youth Speak Out
Homework help and test prep available!
Parent advisory council
4
Upcoming Clubs
5
Upcoming Events
3
Club Report
6
Keystone and Torch
6

2. Page 2
Parent Advisory Council
The Youth Program’s Parent Advisory Council (PAC) provides guidance
and support to the Program Manager
and Youth Staff to ensure programs
and activities are meeting the needs
and expectations of the community.
The Parent Advisory Council serves as
a liaison between the program and
the community in order to raise
awareness of our program and increase participation.
Participating in PAC is a great way
to have an impact on our community,
learn about our programs, and make
friends in the process. We meet the
fourth Tuesday of every month. We
had a kick off event September 24th
to welcome new members!
If you are interested in participating in future meetings please give us
a call to sign up!
The “Six Pillars of Character” integrated into the Youth Center programs provide a strong foundation to
help build youth of good character.
STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Mr. Joe is our New Tech Lab Lead!
The Youth Center Welcomes a
New Technology Lab Lead, Mr. Joe!
Mr. Joe has a background in technology, including having a Masters Degree in the field! He joins us after
working in the Watertown School District for several years and is excited to
be developing new programs in the
Lab. You can look forward to Photography Club, Photoshop editing, Video
Editing, Smart Board Games, and
much more. Plus he is available to
help you with any homework you
need to complete on the computer.
Stop by the Technology Lab to see
what’s happening!
Haunted House and Halloween Ball Coming in October!
Every year Youth Programs puts on
a haunted house at Remington Park.
The Haunted House is open to the
Public and is a great way to have some
spooky Halloween fun! This year, we
will asking youth, parents, and community volunteers to help set up and organize the event. We are also looking
for ideas to make this the best year
ever for this popular event!
Youth can sign up at the front
desk if they are interested in volunteering, and parents can call if they
would like to be involved. If you can’t
volunteer, at least make sure to stop
by on October 25th to participate in
this awesome event!
This year we also have a Halloween Ball on October 31st, 6-9 PM. $3
for members in costume; $5 for
members not in costume, and nonmembers. Come have a ball dancing,
no tricks but treats will be provided.
Prizes awarded for best costumes.

3. Page 3
Help needed for Holiday Events
The Youth Center is Home to several excellent holiday Events! Every
year we host the holiday tree lighting
reception. Much help is needed from
volunteers to run crafts, snacks, and to
assist with set up. This event is open
to families of all ages from Fort Drum!
This years event will be held 10
December at the Commons.
Youth can also look forward to a
Holiday Party on December 21st. We
will celebrate Holidays from all over
the world, sample foods, dance, and
have a great time! This event is $3 for
members and $5 for non-members.
This year we will host our New
Years Eve Party on 31 December.
Youth are encouraged to come celebrate the New Year with food, fun,
and friends!
The event starts at 8PM and we
ring in the new year at midnight.
Breakfast is then served and the
event ends at 1AM. The cost of the
event is $10 Per person or $16 per
couple.
Midnight Sports Report
Midnight sports has always been
one of the biggest events at the Youth
Center. Our youth have spoken up
and told us that they want something
a little different for the next few sessions–sports other than basketball!
Midnight sports started September 13th with basketball from 8PMmidnight. On October 11th we will
have a volleyball tournament with extra special prizes for the winning
team. Midnight basketball will return
November 15th. We plan on having
an array of games including capture
the flag. Keep an eye on the schedule
as the sport for December 13th will be
announced later.
We know the price has gone up but we
will be providing better food and better prizes.
All Midnight Sports are $5 for
members and $7 for non-members.
We always have food, music, and
prizes for participants!
New Jams in the Rhythms Room!
Since we moved into our beautiful
new building, the Rhythms Room has
always been a bit of a mystery. We are
now proud to announce we have a
new staff member, Mr. Harrison, who
will be running excellent new
programs in that room.
Mr. Harrison went to Berkley College of Music and is able to play
drums, guitar, piano, and is well
versed in music production.
Mr. Harrison has worked at other
Youth Centers including Sembach,
Germany and he is very excited to
join our team! You can look forward
to music instruction, open recording
booth, and DJ Club! Stop by the
Rhythms room for more information!

4. Page 4
Youth Speak: What is your favorite YC Activity?
“ I like Torch Club because we help
our community,”
“I like the rock wall because you
can climb with your friends,”
“I like hanging out with my
friends in the teen lounge,”
-Amari Snyder
– Madison Staples
- Miguel Figueroa
“My favorite is Midnight sports
because I like the competition”
“I like to come
play basketball,”
- Malik Dampier
- Alvin Dejesus

5. Page 5
Upcoming YC Clubs:
There’s so much going on at the
Youth Center now that school is in
session! Here’s a rundown of our upcoming clubs:
5:00 PM. Register by December, 6th.
Keystone Club: First and third
Wednesday at 5:00 (High School community service club)
Ladies Zumba: Tuesdays 4:30-5:30PM
Torch Club: First and third Thursday at
4:30 (Middle School community service)
Diploma to Degree: Tuesdays 5:00 PM
Smart Girls: Wednesdays 3:30-5:00 PM
September 18 - November 13
Register by September 6th
Conflict Resolution: September 20th,
October 30th, November 18th, & December 12th at 5PM.
Youth of The Year: Thursdays, September 5th-November 14th 5:00 PM.
Everybody Zumba: Fridays 5:00-6:00
PM
Cooking Club 201: Ethnic Observance:
Hispanic: September 20th-October
9th, Mondays and Wednesdays 3:305:00. Register by September 18th
Native American Cooking:
November 13th-22nd, Wednesdays
and Fridays 3:30-5:00. Register by
November 1st
Cooking Club 202: Cake Decorating
December 18th, 19th, & 20th 3:00-
Ladies Zumba
Upcoming YC Events:
 Middle School Dance – September
28th, 7-10 PM
 Middle School Dance – October 4th,
7-10 PM
 Teen Lock-In: October 18th-19th, 8
PM-8 AM
 Karaoke: October 5th, 5-7 PM
 Midnight Sports: October 11th, 8
PM-12 AM
 Line Dance Party: October 26th, 4-7
PM
 Halloween Ball: Oct 31th, 6-9 PM
 Skate Jam: November 2nd, 3-6 PM
 Middle School Dance: November
8th, 7-10 PM
 November 15th, Midnight Sports
 3 on 3 Basketball: November 16th,
2-6 PM
 Holiday Crafts: November 23rd, 2-5
PM
 Native American Heritage Event:
November 22nd, 5-7PM
 December 13th, Midnight Sports
 Gingerbread House Contest: December 14th, 3-5 PM
 Holiday Party, December 21st 4-7
PM
 Holiday Crafts: December 23rd, 2-5
PM
 Snow Sculpture Contest: Dec. 28 24pm
 New Years Eve Party: Dec. 31, time
TBA

6. Youth Center, 10788 Chapel Drive, Ft. Drum, NY 13602
Youth Programs
The Youth Center is a FREE
program for all youth whose parents
work on Fort Drum – Active Duty or
civilian. Please stop by or give us a call
to register!
Youth Spotlight:
Gabrielle Belles
(315) 772-6719
We are proud to see all that Gabby
has done in our community and look
forward to seeing great things in her
future!
Find us on Facebook:
Fort Drum CYSS Youth
The Youth Center offers a FREE USDA
approved meal and snack daily.
Gabrielle Belles is a very active
member of our community. She is
President of Keystone club and participates in several afterschool programs including Cooking Club,
SMART Girls, and Youth of the Year.
Gabby recently won Boys and
Girls Club Artist of the Month. Her
artwork was chosen from art submitted from youth all over the country!
Gabrielle Belles along with her artwork
based on the theme,
Alexandra
Steele, Kendra
Helms, and
Antonio Bell
Keystone and Torch Report!
Keystone and Torch Club are two
of our most popular clubs at the
Youth Center. Both clubs are geared
towards leadership and community
service. Over the past few months,
Keystone club has been very busy
with a volunteer trip to Urban Mission,
a food drive at the PX, and helping
out around the Center. Torch Club has
also been busy helping with a Middle
School Dance, cooking snack, and
volunteering at the Urban Mission. In
the coming months, both clubs will be
planning another community outreach event. Keystone will be very
busy planning for a Teen Lock-In, and
Torch will be planning our next Middle School Dance.
Both clubs are a great way to be a
part of the Community, gain leadership skills, and make new friends. New
members are welcome any time!
Keystone Club Officers:
Torch Club Officers:
President: Gabrielle Belles
President: Adam Mitchell
Vice President: Antonio Bell
Vice President: Amari Snyder
Secretary: Emily Moss
Secretary: Aaliyah Holloway
Treasurer: Ameire Bell
Treasurer: Sara Hemminger