What are the opening hours?

Monday 7:45am - 4:30pm Tuesday 7:45am - 4:30pm Wednesday 7:45am - 4:30pm Thursday 7:45am - 4:30pm Friday 7:45am - 4:30pm

MI National Guard Child and Youth Programs

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United States
Lansing, MI
MI National Guard Child and Youth Programs

This is the official page for the Michigan National Guard Child & Youth Program. Army or Department of Defense.

The Child & Youth Program provides dependants, ages 6-18 years, of Michigan National Guard service members with opportunities to develop their physical, social, emotional and cognitive abilities and to experience achievement, leadership, friendship and recognition. Community Guidelines:
While this is an fan page, it's a family friendly one, so please keep your comments and wall posts clean. In add

ition to keeping it family friendly, we ask that you follow our posting guidelines here. Posts will be removed if they violate the guidelines listed below.

• No graphic, obscene, explicit or racial comments or posts. We do not allow comments that are abusive, hateful or intended to hurt anyone or any organization.

• No solicitations or advertisements. This includes promotion or endorsement of any financial, commercial or non-governmental agency.

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• No comments or photos that suggest or encourage illegal activity.

• You participate at your own risk, taking personal responsibility for your comments, your username and any information provided. Also, the appearance of external links on this site does not constitute official endorsement on behalf of the U.S.

07/29/2026

When tempers flare, a rigid mindset completely stalls progress. In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, Covey shares Habit 4: Think Win-Win. This isn't about being "nice" or letting other people walk all over your ideas; it's a belief that there is plenty of success to go around and that a creative team can find a solution that makes everyone happy.

When conflict hits your teen, guide them through this Win-Win checklist:
1️⃣ See the other side: Listen to what the other person actually wants without interrupting them.
2️⃣ State your needs: Clearly and calmly share your own goals.
3️⃣ Brainstorm the "Third Way": Ask the group, "What is a completely new solution we haven't thought of yet that checks both of our boxes?"

Win-Win leadership turns a stubborn argument into an opportunity for adaptive problem-solving. When the team wins together, the bond gets stronger!

07/28/2026

A sudden PCS move on the horizon? It is easy for teens to feel completely out of control when orders drop, but true leadership starts from within.

In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, Sean Covey talks about Habit 1: Be Proactive. Being proactive means realizing you are the driver of your own life, not just a passenger. While military teens can't control where the military sends their family, they have 100% control over how they choose to respond to the change!

Here is how a proactive teen takes charge of a move:
🔴 Reactive Focus: "This ruins everything. I have no say, and I'm going to hate the new base."
🟢 Proactive Focus: "I didn't choose to move, but I can choose my next step. I’m going to research the clubs at the new school, reach out to their youth council, and decide to make the best of it."

Next time a sudden shift happens, challenge your teen to draw two circles. Put things they can't control in the outer circle (the move, the timing) and things they can control in the center circle (their attitude, their preparation). Focus all your energy on the center!

07/27/2026

True adaptive leadership is all about the workaround. Use these 4 questions to debrief with your teens after their next big event or school project! The most disciplined habit in the military is the ability to instantly learn from a mission. Whether it was a massive success or a total wreck. Help your teen understand if a mission was successful.

The Quick Review Checklist:
1️⃣ What was supposed to happen? Start with the original plan or goal.
2️⃣ What actually happened? Be brutally honest about the real-world results. No finger-pointing, just look at the facts.
3️⃣ Why did it happen that way? Figure out what caused the unexpected wins or roadblocks.
4️⃣ What do we do differently next time? Lock in the specific lesson learned so your team changes its behavior for the next challenge.

07/25/2026

Getting ready for school? Stop by the Child and Youth office to load up on FREE school supplies! From now until August 14, from 8-3:30pm. Can't make it during that time? Email us at [email protected] and schedule a time for pickup. School supplies are for military families only.

07/24/2026

Speed up the chemistry! True collaboration happens when a team builds deep relationships faster than normal. Don't just focus on the task; focus on the interaction. Save this checklist for your teen's next leadership huddle! Simplify your teen's team-building with this 4-step military framework:

The "Fast Collaboration" Checklist:

Shared Vision: Does everyone actually know what the end goal looks like? Pin down the big picture first, so no one is guessing.

Mutual Trust: Keep your promises. Trust is the absolute cornerstone of a high-performing group.

Growing Competence: A great leader coaches their team to get better every day, building the specific skills needed to smash the goal.

Unshakable Confidence: Celebrate the small wins to build team pride. When a group has confidence in each other, they pivot instantly when plans change!

07/23/2026

Life moves fast, stay connected wherever you are. Download the ARNG CYS mobile app for instant access to information, resources, and program updates.

07/22/2026

Got 5 minutes? Try this quick, military-style leadership drill with your teen tonight to build their problem-solving and communication skills right at the kitchen table! (Inspired by the Civil Air Patrol "Learn to Lead" curriculum)
https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/L2L_Activity_Guide__Reduced_C6CAF79_7248B911E4E79.pdf

Drill 3: Setting the Standard (Adapted from "Professionalism in Action")

Focus: Personal Accountability & Team Alignment

The Setup: No materials needed, just a quick "what would you do?" scenario over dinner or in the car.

The Action (3 Minutes): Pose this leadership dilemma to your teen: "Imagine you’re the captain of a team or a group leader for a major school project. One of your closest friends is on your team, but they keep showing up late or turning in poor work. How do you address it without ruining the friendship?" The 2-Minute

Debrief: "In the military, standards give leaders a clear way to communicate what is expected. As a leader, your own example is the most important standard of all. How can you gently hold a friend accountable while still leading by example?"

07/21/2026

Moving frequently is tough but it’s also the ultimate training ground for global leadership.

Did you know that because of frequent relocations, many military teens grow up experiencing diverse cultures across America and the globe? The NMFA toolkit emphasizes that this unique lifestyle gives military youth a priceless, real-world perspective that closely reflects our diverse society.

They naturally develop:
🔹 Rapid Relationship Building: Entering new rooms and finding common ground.
🔹 Cultural Intelligence: An innate appreciation for diverse teams and viewpoints.
🔹 Adaptive Problem Solving: Navigating change like absolute pros.

Mentors and educators, let's tap into this wealth of knowledge! Include military youth on your organization’s teen panels, advisory boards, and classroom discussions. Their voices belong at the table.
https://www.isbe.net/Documents/military-teen-toolkit.pdf

07/20/2026

Mid-year slump? Recharge your learning with no-cost Tutor.com support for military families. From course review to new challenges, 150+ subjects and expert tutors are just a click away—anytime, anywhere at tutor.com/military

07/20/2026

Our 2026 camp season is off to an incredible start!

We’ve already had so much fun connecting with our families.

In Munising, campers and parents dove into outdoor skills, including archery, land navigation, survival training, fishing, and swimming!

While at Metamora, it was a day at the barn as everyone learned about horse anatomy, grooming, feeding, and horseback riding, plus we all enjoyed some fun tractor rides!

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us so far. We are so excited for our next two camps coming up very soon!

We have a lot of wonderful programming planned for the remainder of the 2026 season. Make sure to follow our page and encourage your friends to join us so you don't miss any of the action!

Address

Lansing, MI

Opening Hours

Monday	7:45am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	7:45am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	7:45am - 4:30pm
Thursday	7:45am - 4:30pm
Friday	7:45am - 4:30pm

Telephone

517-481-9894

Website

https://linktr.ee/mingyouthprograms

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