Announcing a new policy of Self-Registration at
Ft. Riley’s Middle School & Teen Center (MST)
The Self-Registration policy is designed to provide the benefits of MST membership while at the same time facilitating the timely and proper processing of needed releases, permissions, and registration documents. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Middle-School and Teen Center (MST)

The Ft. Riley Middle-School and Teen Center (MST) offers comprehensive programs designed to meet the academic, social, and developmental needs of today’s youth.  The MST center is building 5800, located on the corner of Long St. and Thomas Ave.  Transportation to the MST center is provided from area schools.  The MST has a full court gym used for sports, dances, and instructional programs, a technology lab, art room, a large activity area for eating, playing board games, pool and air hockey a music/dance studio, a homework area and  a newly designed high school lounge.

The MST center offers a variety of fee-based and open recreation services.  The following are just a few of the options available to our military-connected youth:

Before School Services
For parents desiring supervision for their Middle School-aged youth before school, the MST Center offers Before School Services.  This is a fee based service beginning at 5:45am Mon-Fri.  Youth enrolled in this program have the opportunity to start their day with a nutritionally balanced breakfast, homework assistance, or time to socialize with friends.  Transportation to the Ft Riley Middle School is provided.

Homework Center & Computer Lab
The MS/T Center boasts a fully equipped computer lab and homework center, each is facilitated by a fully qualified staff member.  Computers can be accessed in both labs for homework and Internet surfing. Parents can be reassured that each tech lab is protected by, CYBERsitter, a content filtering software that complies with the Children’s Internet Protection Act. Each user will be taught safe Internet skills before accessing any of the lab's computers. During specified hours, each facility is open to the public.  Home-Schooling families are especially encouraged to take advantage of the lab’s public hours.

Homework Center Public Hours:
Mon-Fri 11am-2pm     Sat 2-6pm

Computer Lab Public Hours: 
Mon-Fri 12-2pm

Special Interest Clubs: 
Our affiliation with 4H and Boys and Girls Clubs of America allows us to provide some great activities on a regular basis.  Activities like:

Club Tech
The latest in technology and software are available in our youth technology lab.  Technology programs introduce youth to digital movie making, music making, photography, Jr. PC Technician skills, graphic design, and web development.

Passport to Manhood
This program consists of 14 small group sessions, each of which concentrates on a specific aspect of manhood through highly interactive activities.  Each participant is issued his own “passport” to underscore the idea that he is on a journey of maturation and personal growth.

Smart Girls
A health, fitness, prevention/education program for girls, ages 10-15.  Healthy attitudes and lifestyles are encouraged to enable early adolescent girls to develop to their full potential.

Youth of the Year
Designed to promote and recognize service to Club and Community, academic performance and contributions to family and spiritual life.  Clubs select a Youth of the Year who receives a certificate and medallion and may advance to state, regional and national competitions with eligibility to earn valuable scholarships.

Image Makers National Photography Program
Image Makers is a comprehensive photography program that encourages girls and boys to learn and practice photography and to express themselves in creative and innovative ways.  Image Makers provides local, regional, and national recognition through an annual photography contest.                                                              

National Fine Arts Exhibit
This competition, which encourages creativity through a variety of media, is made up of local, regional and national exhibits.  Young people are encouraged to create artwork in any of the following categories:  monochromatic drawing, multicolored drawing, pastels, water color, oil or acrylic paint, print making, mixed media, collage and sculpture.

4-H Clubs
A positive self-concept, an inquiring mind, a concern for community, healthy interpersonal relationships and sound decision making are the life skills promoted through various 4-H clubs offered at MS/T.  Youth can participate in Cooking Club, Arts and Crafts, Photography Club and Drama where youth and adults learn, grow and work together.

4-H Free Fair
Youth are offered the opportunity to participate in the Annual 4-H Free Fair by submitting projects created throughout the year. High ranking ribbon winners will have their project sent on to the State Fair competition.

Click here to see when these and other clubs and activities meet. (link to monthly calendar).

Leadership Opportunities: 
The Youth Advisory Committees (YAC) utilize the Torch Club and Keystone Club materials from the Boys and Girls Clubs of America help teens learn and practice leadership skills. Club members assist staff in making rules, planning programs, decorating centers, provide community service, and evaluate teen programs and services.  Additionally, Middle School and High School teens have opportunities to be delegates at the Teen Army Family action Plan conference where their voices are heard by community leaders and commanders.  Selected Teens also teens have opportunities to represent Ft. Riley at regional and national Army forums and panel discussions.

Education: 
Power Hour provides youth with the support, resources and guidance necessary to complete their homework and start the school day with a sense of confidence and ability.  Youth earn Power Points for completion of homework and other educational activities.  These points may be redeemed for prizes, activities and incentives.  Homework Center staff  are also qualified to assist youth in ACT/SAT preparation and in finding college scholarship & grants.

Rent a Teen:
A work referral service designed to provide youth with job skills as well as opportunities to apply these skills in work situations.  Upon completion of BGCA’s Career Launch and Job Ready programs youth are placed on a referral list.  Community members seeking to hire youth may contact MST to obtain contact information of trained, willing youth and their parents

Youth Sponsorship: 
Sponsorship helps relocated youth become familiar with their new home at Ft. Riley by contacting them before their move, if possible, and helping them settle into a new post. Each quarter a New Comers Club orients new teens to the Ft. Riley MST and its programs.  This meeting is held in cooperation with area schools and allows new comers a chance to meet new peers and get credible information from them about their new home, school, and the MST. 

Youth Sponsor Application
Youth Sponsor Request Form

Services for Youth with Deployed Parents:
Deployments affect everyone.  Often overlooked, however, are the added stresses and anxiety experienced by older children who, along with school work, take on the added burdens of caring for younger siblings and increased responsibilities in the household.  In recognition of the unique challenges faced by teens during times of deployment, the Middle-School and Teen Center offers the following support programs:

Deployment Discussions:
As the name implies, “Deployment Discussions” are periods of open discussion with peers regarding deployment related issues during all deployment phases.  The discussions are facilitated by the Military Family Life Consultant (MFLC) assigned to the Teen Center who utilizes video and print resources to stimulate discussion.  Although all aspects of deployments will be discussed, positive aspects of the deployment experience and the opportunities for personal growth are continually emphasized.  Discussions take place every Wednesday from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Teen Center.  All youth in grades 6 – 12 are allowed to participate regardless of their registration status with CYS. 

Annual Youth Deployment Summer Retreat:
A day of fun in the sun at Rock Springs 4H camp for children with deployed parents.  The purpose of the retreat is to give youth the opportunity for positive peer interactions while building personal confidence and developing coping skills at the same time.  The basic agenda includes a variety of group and team building activities (such as a low-ropes obstacle course, canoeing, swimming, etc.), as well as some more formal periods of presentation by social work professionals on coping with deployment stresses and reintegration.

Special Events:
In additional to all of the great opportunities listed above, the Ft. Riley MST regularly offers a number of special events such as, dances, sports tournaments, and field trips.  Guests of MST members are frequently invited to these events with the hope that they too will see the great fun members are having everyday and consider becoming members themselves.