Youth Village, Inc.

06/15/2026

Thanks to the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation's February Galantine’s Day Fundraiser Event donation, Youth Village partnered with the The Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park on Okaloosa Island for a custom camp outing for several of our Youth Village girls along with Youth Village Director Valerie Bogar for a fun and educational day of marine science at the Gulfarium Care Center.

We also give a HUGE shout-out to Lisa Dalton, Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park Education Coordinator for putting this awesome adventure together for our girls!!

We believe that it is essential for girls (and everyone!) to learn marine science because the ocean sustains all life, regulates climate, provides food/jobs, and needs diverse minds to solve crises like pollution and overfishing; empowering girls specifically brings crucial new perspectives, skills, and leadership to conservation, fostering innovation and ensuring equitable participation in science and stewardship for a healthier planet.

Collaboration is the key!!! Collaboration is the process of individuals or teams working together toward a shared goal, combining their expertise and resources to achieve outcomes that would be difficult alone. Again, thanks to the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation and the Gulfarium!!

06/11/2026

WE HAVE JUST A FEW SPACES LEFT FOR OUR SUMMER PROGRAM!!! Youth Village is THE place for your child’s summer camp experiences! We serve children ages 2-12 and we do mean experiences!!!!!!!!! Wait until you check out the cool stuff we have in store! Registration is now open…and we’re filling up fast!!! For more information, click here: https://ouryouthvillage.org/programs/summer-camp/
See you soon…. thanks

05/28/2026

Thank you Mary Esther Elementary School! Youth Village has been picking up children from your school to our after school program for almost 20 years! You have been a HUGE part of our center!

Mary Esther Elementary School will always be in our hearts and we wish all the staff and teachers well! ❤

Mary Esther Elementary may be closing its doors, but it will forever remain in our hearts. We hope that within these walls, over the last 61 years, we were able to make an impact on each of you, just as each of you has made an impact on all of us who were lucky enough to work in this wonderful building.

We are not saying goodbye. We are saying, “See you later.”

“See you later” in your new schools, where you will continue to shine bright and make your mark on the world.

“See you later” as you grow, learn, and move on to your next adventures. Adventures that we are so proud to witness, support, and celebrate alongside you.

“See you later,” and always remember how deeply you are loved. Thank you for allowing us to teach you, inspire you, support you, and grow with you. We are beyond thankful to have been a small part of your lives, even if only for a short time.

Spread those wings and fly, Thunderbirds. We love each and every one of you with every beat of our hearts.

Once a Thunderbird, always a Thunderbird.

Love,
Mary Esther Elementary Faculty and Staff

❤️💙

05/18/2026

Youth Village, Inc. is NOW enrolling for our VPK Program.

What is VPK?

Florida's Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) is a free educational program for all 4-year-olds who reside in the state.

For more information on enrolling your child...see our website: https://ouryouthvillage.org/2025-2026-preschool-academy-vpk/ or call (850) 374-8200 and ask for Miss Pam or Miss Valerie...thanks bunches!!!

05/18/2026

Friday, May 15 was the Youth Village, Inc. 5h Annual VPK (Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten) graduation!!

Youth Village, Inc.. was blessed by Rev. Eric Miracle and the members of Beachside Church to host our ceremony once again at their church at 200 Racetrack Road in Ft. Walton Beach.

We thank them all for giving us the opportunity to help get these little people ready for their next season…which is Kindergarten!!
Their generosity is such a blessing to ALL of the folks at Youth Village, and we thank them again and again for helping us to continue to serve the children and families of our community!

1 Peter 4:10-11: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. “If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”

For more information on Beachside Church, see their website at: https://beachside.org/
For more information on Youth Village, see their website at: https://ouryouthvillage.org

05/15/2026

We are getting ready for our VPK graduation at Beachside Church!

05/11/2026

4 generations of Bogar women (the youngest is 10...and the oldest is 103 !!!!)

What a blessing to have lunch together with the wonderful woman that we call Ma, Grandma and Nana, at The Manor at Blue Water Bay!!! We count every SECOND we have together as a blessing from God! Happy Mother's Day again everyone!

05/08/2026

All the folks at Youth Village, Inc. are VERY grateful for our community partners!

We warmly welcome Brooke from the Mary Esther Public Library who comes out on a weekly basis to read to our preschoolers! THEY LOVE IT...and are learning so much!!

We are firm believers that reading is fundamental!!!

Brooke has also agreed to come out during our summer program to read some awesome, inter-active books to our school-age students as well! What a blessing!!!

05/05/2026

Today, May 5, is National Teacher Appreciation Day! National Teacher Appreciation Week 2026 is observed from May 4–8, with National Teacher Appreciation Day on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

This week honors educators for their dedication, lasting influence, and hard work in shaping students' lives. Common celebrations include personalized notes, small gifts, classroom supply donations, and special discounts/freebies from retailers.

At Youth Village, Inc., we honored our wonderful teachers with lunch and special gifts! We LOVE our teachers.

Standing left to right in the photo is Ms. Pam, Ms. LaMyia, Ms. Ana, Ms. Lisa and Ms. Victoria!

05/05/2026

All the children, staff and parents at Youth Village thoroughly enjoyed the music of The Little Mercies yesterday as they performed for us! Many thanks to Bridget Gorder, Event & Administrative Coordinator at Sinfonia Gulf Coast for putting this awesome event together for us!

The Little Mercies have rapidly grown from three friends at the local jam to headlining festivals in two years’ time. A force to be reckoned with, their distinct sound has garnered recognition and awards nationally as Official Showcase artists for the Southeastern Regional Folk Alliance (SERFA) and finalists for the Freshgrass Awards. Known for their powerful vocal harmonies, raging twin fiddles, and tear-wrenching lyrics, their music promises an authentic, exuberant experience.

Multi-instrumentalist songwriters and vocalists, Bronwyn Chelette, Shanice Richards, and Rosalee Walsh united through their love of old-time music. With individual expertise in bluegrass, reggae, jazz, folk, and classical, their collective sound respects tradition while blending genre lines.

It is obvious that these young ladies enjoy their musical gifts, and we sincerely hope to see (and hear) them again soon!!!!