The Junior Staff members at the Boys & Girls Club (BGC) of Sumter County are learning skills to succeed in the work place.

Junior Staff is a program that assists club members ages 13 to 18 explore a career in youth or human services, particularly Boys & Girls Club work. Young people prepare for future roles as human services professionals by participating in career development activities, discovering the importance of community service, building customer service skills and completing a Club apprenticeship.

“We want the Junior Staff to realize the value in being a productive and effective employee,” said Larry Jackson, chief volunteer officer.

BGC also offers CareerLaunch. CareerLaunch is a career exploration and mentoring program for teens ages 13-18. This program includes the CareerLaunch Website that allows teens to take an interest survey, explore careers, identify training or college requirements, seek out financial aid and play skills-building games. There's also an easy-to-use Career Exploration Quick Reference Guide with a broad range of career planning and job skills activities that club staff or volunteers can use with teens. The CareerLaunch Portfolio contains a Teen Tips booklet with helpful interviewing and on-the-spot job tips.

Registration for the BGC after-school program begins from 10 a.m. -2 p.m. Monday-Friday at the Easter Morning unit. Registration for the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter unit is only Monday and Tuesday.

The registration fee can be paid one of three ways:

• $5 paid weekly

• $20 paid monthly

• $75 if paid in full for program period

Children that live in a Housing Authority of Americus unit can attend the after-school program for free, but their parents must register them, no exceptions. The after-school program starts Aug. 4, and daily hours are from 2-6 p.m. Call 924-0414 for more information.