Youth Center goes into overtime for furlough week

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Timothy Boyer
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The Travis Youth Center is busy year-round with an accredited school-age program, team sports, numerous 4-H and Boy and Girl Scouts programs, instructional classes and an open recreation program. With the state of California struggling financially, budgets have been slashed across many state-funded programs. One attempt to save money by the state was to impose furlough days - non-paid days off of work for state employees.

Travis Unified School District is scheduled to have furlough days Tuesday through Feb. 24. To Youth Center staff, furloughs mean amping up the week's activities to meet the demands of the children who will be out of class for nearly a week.

"This will be our third year of programming for furlough days so we have some experience to fall back on," said Steven Metcalf, 60th Force Support Squadron Youth Center youth programs coordinator. "Since parents are not normally off during this time, there are few alternatives for child care or directed activities."

This year's activities include a well-rounded program to meet the different needs and interests of the Travis youth, he said.

"This year we have some new activities that will be offered for a low fee or, in some cases free," Metcalf said.

These activities include a two-day golf lesson for only $10, a free fishing trip, an ice skating trip and the chance to fly in a C-17 Globemaster III simulator, just to name a few, he said.

While Metcalf wants the activities to be fun for children, there is a bigger mission for the Youth Center staff.

"Our philosophy is to provide opportunities for youth to develop their physical, social, emotional and cognitive abilities while experiencing achievement, leadership, friendship, recognition and enjoyment," Metcalf said.

Military families are normally able to plan out their child care based on the holidays and their regular work schedule, but furlough days make it difficult because they are not part of normal school or military scheduling, he said.

"Children who are not given constructive activities during these times can find themselves making the wrong decisions and placing extra stress on their parents," Metcalf said. "That is where youth programs comes into play - we offer fun and safe activities for school-age youth during the furlough so that parents can continue the mission without having to worry about their children."

The Youth Center is accredited by the Council of Accreditation, which requires a passing inspection on hundreds of items, some of which include child and staff interaction, curriculums and adherence to safety and health standards, he said.

"Our certification was expedited by the president of the board as we had the highest scores in the Air Force," Metcalf said.

For more information on Youth Center activities visit www.TravisFSS.com and look for the "youth programs" page.