Moody youth programs go above and beyond

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Melissa K. Mekpongsatorn
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  For the first time in more than ten years Team Moody's 23rd Force Support Squadron youth programs earned Air Combat Command Youth Programs of the Year.

Team Moody's youth program offers several different activities for the youth on Moody Air Force Base. The school-age program, open recreational and instructional programs and sports, are the three main programs and during each one of those programs, several activities are offered.

"It's unreal the diversity of programs we offer here at the youth center, we try to appeal to the interest of all the kids," said Nikki Bennett, 23 Force Support Squadron section chief of youth programs.

The youth center is not just a day-care they offer an array of activities for the children in the school-age and open recreational programs to participate in, everything from cooking classes to soccer.

"It was really cool, the other day we did a science project where I got to take fingerprints and make an FBI badge," said Madison Foster age 9, daughter of Master Sgt. Marcus Bechtel 723rd Aircraft Maintenance squadron and Tech. Sgt. Laura Bechtel.

The School-Age Program is a program that provides care for children age's five to 12 before and after school, on school holidays and during summer vacation and the open recreational program is open for activities each afternoon and on Saturdays for preteens and teens.

"We try to offer good well-rounded programs, our motto is 'supporting youth development through fitness, recreation, and education,'" said Bennett.

Between the extensive amounts of activities, the grants the youth center has received and the fact that they are in the top 25 of the National Association for Youth Sports, Moody's youth programs went above and beyond this past year earning that spot as the ACC Youth Programs of the Year.

"These programs that we offer and the award that we won wouldn't have been possible without all the members here at Moody," said Bennett.