Official Lee County Government Web Site

Charleston Park - Youth Activities

More age appropriate activities for the children
and youth of Charleston Park.

LITTLE LEAGUE
Through involvement in Little League, youth will have the opportunity to develop the fundamental skills of the game of baseball, learn sportsmanship, socialize with their peers, develop leadership qualities and actively participate as a valuable team member. Coaching staff and donors of equipment are currently being recruited.

GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA
Throughout its history, Girl Scouting has held on to its traditional values while maintaining contemporary outlook - a dual focus expected to continue well into the 21st century. The Girl Scout Group started in March of 2000 by Girl Scout Group Leader Aniese Lumpkin, assists the girls from 5 years of age to 17, achieve their full potential. Providing citizenship training, moral leadership, character, ethical development and personal as well as mental fitness. Other activities include participation in the Bradenton Honihonta Day Camp, Arts and Crafts, and collaborative meetings with the Bonita Springs Group. Members participated in a sewing course and created their own garments for Physical Education class. Recruitment of a resident leader continues as membership has grown to a monthly average of 25.

BOY SCOUTS OF LEE COUNTY
Six residents of Charleston Park have volunteered to be troop leaders for the neighborhoods first Boy Scout Troop. Over 20 boys have expressed an interest, leading to the development of three troops. This in not the traditional troop concept as the Boy Scouts has attempted to conduct outreach to traditionally hard to serve areas. Scoutreach is the concept Charleston Park will use, varying some of their criteria and costs to accommodate the new troops throughout Lee County. The Boy Scouts of America is a new partner in Charleston Park as there were no troops in existence prior to 2002.

BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF LEE COUNTY
The Boys and Girls Club after-school program has been a great success, providing programs for 70 to 80 neighborhood youths. An average of 25 youth conduct periodic trash pick-ups in the neighborhood. The club recognizes and honors outstanding youths each month. Interested youth participate in a countywide poetry reading on a quarterly basis, reading historically relevant writings and their own compositions. In addition to the year round after school program, the Neighborhood Association contracted with the Boys and Girls Club to provide a full-time, five day a week summer program to address the needs of the neighborhood youth that were not employed or those not actively participating in a summer school program.

Program Outcomes:

Fund Raising Efforts:
Special Events (dances, car washes, etc): $4,704
Contributions: $1,520
Enable youth to become proficient in basic educational disciplines, while raising their grade point average, by apply learning to everyday situations and embrace technology to achieve success in a career. This is accomplished through the ComputeMobile, Changing Kids Direction Program, Book Club, and guest speakers. Forty-two percent of the youth saw an increase in their grade point average.
Empower youth to support and influence their Club and neighborhood, sustaining meaningful relationships with others, developing a positive self-image, participate in the democratic process and respect their own and others' cultural identities. This is accomplished through the Junior Leader Program, Keystone Club, and Youth of the Month.
Develop young people's capacity to engage in positive behaviors that nurture their own well being, set personal goals and live successfully as self-sufficient adults. This is accomplished through the Junior Leader Program, Summer Food Program, AIDS Awareness Program and Dental Hygiene Program.

The Compute Mobile is a one of a kind thirty-one foot RV that has been converted into a computer classroom that makes weekly stops in Charleston Park. The Compute Mobile is offered by a not-for-profit corporation, Changing Kids Directions Inc., through Boys and Girls Club of Lee County to provide a safe and convenient way for children to develop and enhance their computer skills.

The following are educational and recreational activities coordinated to assist the residents of Charleston Park:

HEALTH AND AIDS AWARENESS ACTIVITITES
The Lee County AIDS Task Force, Salvation Army and the Lee County Health Department provide monthly education and awareness programs on current trends and issues effecting the youth of Charleston Park. Testing and screenings include diabetes, HIV, and other sexual transmitted diseases to approximately 35 youth monthly are conducted at the Community Center.

UPWARD BOUND
Six prospective college students were transported by the Resident Coordinator to Edison Community College for monthly tutoring. Edison staff tailor tutoring sessions to student needs.

MILITARY RECRUITMENT FAIR
In order to provide alternatives and options to the residents, military recruitment staff provided presentations discussing the educational benefits, long-term career opportunities and character development of the armed forces. Approximately 10 youths participated.

EDUCATIONAL OPEN HOUSE
To assist in parent participation and to meet the needs of the transportation disadvantaged, the Community Center played host to local elementary and middle school staff in an effort to reach and involve the parents of Charleston Park. Approximately 75 residents were in attendance.

ORLANDO TRIP
During summer break, thirty youth and four adults went to Orlando with the Boys and Girls Club for two days and visited several theme parks in the area. For some, this was the first time traveling outside of Lee County, and for others, their first time traveling further than the City of Ft. Myers. This is an annual event coordinated through the Boys and Girls Club, rewarding and recognizing those youth that have led by example, engaging in positive behavior.

SUMMER BLOCK PARTY
The Neighborhood Association recruited neighborhood residents to assist in a Summer Block Party. Sixty youth and eight adults celebrated life, their neighborhood, and the end of summer by participating in the "End of Summer" party. Residents in the neighborhood volunteered food and drinks to assist the youth in their celebration, in an attempt at narrowing the generation gap between the youth and the adults of the neighborhood.

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