Isiah Robinson, Fort Belvoir Youngster Youth Program Assistant, proper, challenges teenagers to a fast recreation of soccer on the Youth Middle. Robinson, who attended the Middle as a toddler again in 2004, now helps navy teenagers keep match and targeted by way of an enormous array of applications and actions.
VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Belvoir’s Teen Middle affords quite a few free facilities to military-connected youth year-round, and is staffed by caring assistants who perceive the issue navy teenagers face with frequent strikes and deployed dad and mom.
VIEW ORIGINAL
Isiah Robinson, Fort Belvoir Youngster Youth Program Assistant, proper, congratulates teenagers after a recreation of soccer on the Youth Middle. Robinson considers the Youth Middle his ‘second house,’ having attended as a teen earlier than turning into an assistant and serving to navy teenagers navigate their difficult lives.
VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Belvoir Youth Middle affords quite a few actions from caring employees
Fort Belvoir, VA – The military precept of Folks First is clear day by day at a facility that isn’t getting the site visitors it deserves. The Fort Belvoir Youth Middle is tucked a number of blocks west of Belvoir Street, on Langfitt Loop and affords a wide range of youth alternatives, starting from life abilities to citizenship, mentoring, intervention and assist providers, based on Marshall Barnes, Middle director.
“I simply want individuals to know that this constructing is right here and throughout the faculty 12 months we feed the kids for free of charge to the households,” Barnes stated with a large smile, including the constructing is secure, quiet and affords high quality applications, permitting navy youngsters to be themselves. Among the Youth Middle actions embody:
- A rock wall
- A pc lab
- A homework lab, with help from employees
- Xbox and PlayStation video games
- A is a teen-specific lounge which separates them from the youthful youngsters.
- A backyard
- Basketball courts (indoor and out of doors)
- There are even distant management automobiles right here that may race at 60 miles an hour
- Sponsor fishing and archery occasions at Outside Recreation
An under-used gem for Households
Barnes thinks extra households would make the most of the Middle in the event that they solely knew, however many households dwelling on publish should not assigned to Fort Belvoir, which suggests they get their briefings from the Pentagon or Andrews Air Drive Base. He remembers receiving suggestions from the Interactive Buyer Analysis service, or ICE, which stated, “The Fort Belvoir youth program is one of the best factor I’ve seen in 10 years. The employees is nice.”
The newest figures point out about 60 college students are regulars on the Middle, however Barnes is able to see these numbers double, which is what it was earlier than the pandemic, explaining that “Youngster and Youth Companies is a Soldier’s useful resource from six weeks outdated to their first 12 months of school.”
“As soon as a month, we’ve got one thing known as Pure Pizza, the place it’s basically a youth council, and so they take about what makes this place particular and what they need to see sooner or later.
It’s not all enjoyable and video games. Barnes factors on the market’s steerage for teenagers about wholesome habits, and what runners ought to have the evening earlier than a meet and the way far upfront they need to hydrate. There may be even a cooking membership. Somebody brings the recipe, and so they go as a bunch to the Commissary to purchase the substances and return to the Middle to create and share the meal.
Assistants who know navy life
Isaiah Robinson, a Youngster Youth Program Assistant, was a participant again in 2004, as his mom labored on publish.
“This place is sort of a second house, which is why when it got here time for me to get my first job, this was a no brainer. It is like a household,” Robinson stated. “I used to be nervous at first, as a result of I did not know what to anticipate. But it surely was a straightforward transition.”
He famous the Youth Middle is totally different than different actions exterior the gate, as a result of extra individuals right here perceive what could seem regular to a navy little one.
“The chaos and alter of getting a mother or father deploy and possibly have to stick with a relative who’s shut by – these sorts of experiences are what brings a few of these youngsters collectively,” he stated.
The assistants all specialise in a particular ability. Since Robinson grew up taking part in sports activities, he affords his steerage to younger athletes. His co-worker, Miss Ryan, whose ardour is artwork, helped create a room filled with crafts.
Although Robinson has begun help teacher duties at Whitman Center College, he nonetheless works on the Youth Middle to provide again to the resilient navy youth.
Barnes stated the doorways are open to all households on publish, and he hopes many extra will come to see the wealth of alternatives which are provided.
“I would like individuals to know that this constructing is obtainable to them, whether or not they come for 20 minutes, as soon as per week, or they arrive day by day from open to shut,” stated Barnes. “You will note we get pleasure from what we do right here.”
Fort Belvoir Youth Middle
5850 Langfitt Loop, Bldg. 1003
Monday – Friday 6:30 a.m. to five:30 p.m.
Name 703-805-4515 for extra info or go to
https://belvoir.armymwr.com/programs/youth-Center
