Bridges Outreach
Central Middle School after-school program (since Jan. 2005)- Central, the largest middle school in Kokomo, has around 80-90 students that participate in the Bridges program. This program meets every Monday through Thursday from 2:45 to 5:00. During that time we have a snack, play a game, do homework, work on the computers, and end with a life lesson (drugs, relationships, self-esteem, character development, etc). We also have lunch with the students every Tuesday and Thursday at the school.
Bon Air Middle School after-school program (since Jan. 2006)- The format at Bon Air is identical to the after-school programming at Central. However, 45-50 students are served at Bon Air. As is true with Central, students with a weekly attendance rate of 75% or higher are eligible to attend our weekly field trips. These trips include educational field trips, recreational events, ministry opportunities, and community service projects. Some of our yearly field trips include: Ski trip with a local church, the 30 hour famine (raises money & awareness for world hunger), Pacer games, numerous trips to church youth centers, and community projects like the ?Heart Walk? and ?Haynes Apperson Festival.?
?Summer Slam? program (since summer of 2005)- This program includes everything that Bridges does in the summer when the students are not in school. Every summer we attend two of the best camps in America: ?Kids Across America? in June and ?SpringHill? in August. Additionally, we have a weekly Bible study that runs throughout the summer. In 2006, we started a five week summer program that met everyday for our 7th and 8th graders that focused on leadership training and character development. The final week was spent working on community service projects around Kokomo.
?Bridges to College? program (BTC) (since Sept. 2006)- BTC is our high school program that meets on Tuesday and Thursday nights at the YMCA. The main focus of this program is to prepare our students academically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually for college. Along with tutoring and mentoring, Bridges will aid our students into attending college through scholarship help, SAT/ACT preparation, college visits, financial/application aid, and spiritual retreats.
Bridges Outreach exists to bridge communities, schools, and churches through after school programming that feeds, tutors, and mentors at-risk youth. Bridges Outreach creates windows of opportunity to youth with hopes of developing each student academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.
The main goal of Bridges Outreach is to introduce youth to Christ and connect them into strong existing churches in our community. This non-denominational outreach builds relationships and manages programs that provide a safe environment for middle and high school students after-school and in the summer.
