YOUTH CLUBS

by David Nuttle

The U. S. has a number of clubs or youth organizations that teach leadership, skills, and problem solving while building confidence and self-respect. To wit:

a) Turning Point USA, with youth chapters in high schools and colleges, focused on open & honest debate on issues youth are concerned about. (The co-Founder, Charlie Kirk, was a victim of political assassination in 2025.)

b) FFA and 4-H Clubs primarily for farm youth to perfect agricultural skills and provide peer groups for support while building self-confidence and leadership skills.

c) Boy Scouts learn camping, hiking, climbing, and outdoor skills as well as gaining a great deal of diverse knowledge while earning Merit Badges on First Aid, Survival, Climbing, and many other skill areas.

d) Girl Scouts gain some of the same benefits obtained by Boy Scouts, perfect social skills & enjoy peers while performing community service projects.

e) Some federal agencies, such as Natl Park Service and Dept of Labor, have unique youth programs related to the exposure of future career opportunities, providing public service, & building skills as well as gaining self-confidence.

f) The American Legion and VFW all have youth clubs making similar contributions for American youth. These are worth exploring if you are a youth trying to find a club with the best fit.

g) Habitat for Humanity has a youth club that is great for youth wanting to learn construction trades. In the process of learning a trade, self-confidence is gained.

h) For Explorer Boy Scouts, the U. S. military has youth programs. For a group of Explorer Scouts, when I was a Scout Master, the U. S. Navy allowed them on a Naval Base for two weeks to gain experiences as sailors on base and aboard ships at anchor.

i) Senior youth also have growth and learning opportunities with AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps. I helped to create a model for Peace Corps as a volunteer with IVS-Vietnam. For the model, a group of 20 recent college graduates resettled refugees and started an agriculture extension program for the GVN (Govt. of S. Vietnam). For details see the book entitled "The Fortunate Few," by T. J. Sagnier.

N. B. Some youth organizations offer college scholarships based on certain achievements as a youth member.