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Family Issues - Youth Services

Youth Services
The MacDill Youth Center is available to family members between the ages of 5 and 17 of active duty, retired military personnel, Reservists and Federal Civilian Employees. Annual activity cards, which offer substantial discounts for classes and activities, are available for a nominal fee.

Programs and activities offered at the Youth Center help improve and maintain the physical, social, and mental wellbeing of youth to include year-round programs and wholesome leisure-time experiences. Not only are there games, crafts, life skills, and sports, but youth can learn how to become meaningful members of their community.

Pre-Teens

Pre-teens have an assortment of interest areas at the Youth Center. Youth ages 9 and 10 can become members of the Ambassador Club, while youth ages 11 and 12 can become members of the Torch Club. These are leadership clubs where the youth are responsible for planning community service, educational, health and fitness, and social activities throughout the year. Pre-teens also have access to the basketball court, game room, education room, instruction room and two rooms specifically for pre-teens. Programs like FitFactor, 4-H, Fine Arts Exhibition, Photography Contest, and computer classes are available throughout the year.

Teens

Teens have their own area where they can come to interact with their peers, get homework and career assistance, have computers with internet access, or play video games. The Teen Room also has a full-size pool table and teens have access to the other parts of the Youth Center such as the basketball court and game room. Teens have their own area where they can come to interact with their peers, get homework and career assistance, or play video games.

Types of activities that are provided for teens include: Youth of the Year competition, Keystone Club, Money Matters, Operation Night Hoops, computer certifications through Giant Campus, a Job Fair before the summer months, FitFactor and quarterly special events such as Teen Night Out, Iron Chef competitions, and social activities.

Youth Sports

A diversified youth sports program offers basketball, baseball, and soccer leagues along with a cheerleading program.

Special events are conducted periodically for both the pre-teens and teens.

Youth Employment Skills (YES) Program

The Youth Employment Skills (YES) Program is an on-base volunteer program for high school students. This program is a joint effort between Air Force Aid Society and Air Force Family Member Programs Flight to offer high school students an opportunity to learn valuable work skills, "bank" dollar credits toward their post-secondary education/training, and have a positive impact on their base community. YES allows high school students to "bank" $4 in grant funding for every hour volunteered in an on-base function. Students may accumulate as much as 250 hours over all 4 years of high school combined, for a potential maximum of $1,000 toward their future vocational-technical or academic endeavors. All high school-aged children (grades 9-12) of Active Duty Air Force members assigned to MacDill are eligible to participate. Please speak with the Youth Center staff for more details and how to apply.

MacDill AFB Gate Operation Information

In an effort to expedite processing at all gates, drivers must lower their front and rear windows, and collect IDs/credentials from ALL passengers BEFORE approaching the gate.

NOTE: Due to security operations and gate maintenance, gate operating times and closures can occur at any time.

For holiday gate hours, visit our Facebook page here

Normal Gate Hours of Operation

Dale Mabry Gate

Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Commercial Lane: 3 p.m. - 5:30 a.m. Monday - Friday& all day on weekends

After hours visitor passes will be issued at Dale Mabry Gate only

 

Bayshore Gate

Monday - Friday: 5:15 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Saturday - Sunday: 7 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

 

Tanker Way Gate (Port Tampa commercial vehicle gate)

*POV traffic* Monday - Friday: 6 a.m. - 9 a.m.

*Commercial vehicle traffic* Monday - Friday: 6 a.m. - 2 p.m.

NOTE: ALL commercial drivers must use Tanker Way Gate during operating hours.

 

MacDill Gate

*Inbound traffic only*  Monday - Friday: 6 a.m. - 8 a.m.

*Outbound traffic only*  Monday - Friday: 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

 

Visitor Control Center VCC (813) 828-2737 (Dale Mabry Gate)

Monday - Friday: 6 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Saturday: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Sunday: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Closed on Holidays

 

Sponsoring someone?

Need to sponsor someone on base? Click here

Requirements

All vehicle passengers are required to present a picture ID (valid driver’s license, passport, etc.)

If individual is a resident to the country, residency card and social security card must be provided in addition to a valid photo ID

Vehicle drivers must present proof of valid insurance and vehicle registration.

Fleet vehicle: The vehicle is identified by the plates, which shall be of a distinctive color; have the word "Fleet" appearing at the bottom and the word "Florida" appearing at the top. Fleet vehicles are not required to have vehicle registration, but must have proof of insurance.

Personnel must present a bill of lading, invoice, work order, or service call contract, etc., and Point of Contact (POC).

Call the Visitor Control Center (813) 828-2737 for installation access information.

6th Security Forces Squadron (813) 828-3322

For rideshare services and associated food delivery instructions, click here