Okaloosa County Recognizes Scouting America Troop 544 for Finding Missing Child
Okaloosa County, Florida – Okaloosa County Board Chairman Paul Mixon proudly presented a proclamation to the scouts of Troop 544 to recognize them for their role in helping locate a missing 11-year-old autistic child in April this year. Scouts were gathering for their weekly meeting on April 7 at their Scout Hut near Ferry Park in Fort Walton Beach when they were approached by local law enforcement. Once informed of the missing child, the scouts quickly organized into patrols led by the older scouts and
ECCAC recognized National Child Abuse Prevention month in April
Niceville and DeFuniak Springs FL (April 26, 2025)…The Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) just recognized National Child Abuse Prevention throughout the month of April. ECCAC showed the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect. Effective child abuse prevention programs succeed because of partnerships among families, social service agencies, schools, religious and civic organizations, law enforcement agencies and the business community.
Summer Camps 2025
Archery Camp- June: A Bullseye Archery Camp will be held at the Destin Community Center on Monday, June 23rd through Thursday June 26, 2025. Camp will be from 1:00-3:00pm for beginners (minimum grade incoming 4th) and 3:00-5:00pm for Open skilled archers, competitive play/open tournaments will be offered throughout the week. The fee is $90 for non-residents and $60 for Destin residents. Each participant must be present on the first two days of camp (Monday and Tuesday), due to safety lessons. We ask that
FDLE Commissioner and NWFSC graduate Mark Glass to deliver Spring Commencement address
NICEVILLE, Fla. (April 10, 2025) - Northwest Florida State College has announced that Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass will serve as the Spring Commencement speaker on May 9, 2025. This is a homecoming for Commissioner Glass, who is an alumnus of NWFSC. “Northwest Florida State College is proud to welcome home Commissioner Glass, and we all look forward to hearing his inspired words to a new generation of Raider alumni,” said NWFSC President Mel Ponder. “Our graduates leave
Auditions for the NFB Académie 2025-2026 Academic Year Scheduled for April 26 & 27
The Northwest Florida Ballet (NFB) Académie is now taking audition appointment reservations for the 2025-2026 academic year. All auditions will take place at the NFB Studios, the Sybil Lebherz Center for Dance Education, located at 310 Perry Avenue SE in Fort Walton Beach. Incoming third-grade students will audition on April 26 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and April 27 from 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Incoming fourth-grade students will audition on April 26 from 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Appointment reservations are required in
7th Annual Mac & Cheese Festival Brings in $60,000 for The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast is thrilled to announce that the 7th Annual Mac & Cheese Festival, held Sunday, March 16, 2025, at Destin Commons, raised $60,000 to support the young people we serve across the region. This event showcased the power of community uniting for our club kids. Our mission is to inspire and empower boys and girls by nurturing their sense of competence, purpose, belonging and influence. Through programs focused on academic success, character and citizenship, and
Boys & Girls Club of The Emerald Coast Receives $10,000 grant from Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation's Galentine’s Fundraiser
We are thrilled to share that we have received $10,000 grant from Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation's Galentine’s fundraiser. The grant will support our SMART Girls project serving approximately 200 girls at nine different Club sites and facilitate Girls in S.T.E.M. field trips for approximately 60 girls during summer 2025. We are so appreciative for DCWAF for providing girls in our community with greater access to health and fitness information and exposure to S.T.E.M. careers while enhancing their
Club Youth of the Year and Junior Youth of the Year Winners!
We want to give a huge congratulations to our Club Youth of the Year and Junior Youth of the Year winners!
Okaloosa County School District First Semester Highlights 2024-2025
As we enter a new semester, it is my pleasure to share the incredible achievements and milestones of the first half of the school year with our families and community members. It is truly inspiring to witness our students excel in academics, the arts, and athletics while our teachers and staff dedicate themselves to fostering a positive and dynamic learning environment. These highlights are a testament to everyone's collective hard work and commitment to the Okaloosa County School District. Let's take a
Super Bowl Champion Helps Cut the Ribbon on Cox Innovation Lab in FWB
Super Bowl champion and Connect2Compete advocate Malcolm Mitchell cut the ribbon on a technology-filled Innovation Lab at The Boys & Girls Clubs Teen Center in Fort Walton Beach. The lab was made possible thanks to a $25,000 grant from the James M. Cox Foundation. Mitchell, who is an author, Super Bowl-champion and founder of the Share the Magic Foundation, joined local officials and Cox leaders for the grand opening of the technology-filled space. The grant is part of a greater gift from the James M.
Women United Empowers Local Teens with Mental Health Tools and Support
On Nov. 16, United Way Emerald Coast’s Women United hosted a transformative EmpowHER Seminar at the Boys and Girls Club of South Walton. Presented by Eglin Federal Credit Union, the event provided local teens with essential mental health resources, empowering educational tools, and a supportive community to foster self-confidence and resilience. Designed to address the growing need for mental health support across Okaloosa and Walton counties, the seminar featured interactive workshops facilitated by
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast Announce 4th Annual Brunchfest Winners
Congratulations to the amazing winners of the 4th Annual BrunchFest! Your delicious creations stole the show and left us craving more! Thank you to sponsors, cook teams, volunteers, staff, and attendees for a day of delicious brunch benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast. &##127869;️✨ Kids' Choice: &##129353;3rd Place: Slim Chickens (seen here) &##129352;2nd Place: Sauce Boss Burger Co. &##129351;1st Place: Lesgo Personal Chef Judges' Choice: &##129353;3rd Place: Don Cha Peruvian
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast After-School Program Registration Is Open
Registration for our 2024-2025 after-school program is now open! All registration will take place online through our Parent Portal. Have questions? Please contact your local Club.Register here.
CAA Receives NEA Funding for Partnership with PWMC
The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for a Grants for Arts project award of $20,000. This matching grant will support public art and arts education at the Point Washington Medical Clinic. In total, the NEA will award 958 Grants for Arts Projects awards totaling more than $27.1 million that were announced as part of its first round of fiscal year 2024 grants. “The NEA is delighted to announce this grant
Auditions for NFB Académie 2024-2025 Academic Year Scheduled for April 20 & 21
The Northwest Florida Ballet (NFB) Académie is now taking audition appointment reservations for the 2024-2025 academic year. All auditions will take place at the NFB Studios, the Sybil Lebherz Center for Dance Education, located at 310 Perry Avenue SE in Fort Walton Beach. Incoming third-grade students will audition on April 20 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and April 21 from 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Incoming fourth-grade students will audition on April 20 from 2:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Appointment reservations are required
6th Annual Mac & Cheese Festival Raises $60,000 for The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast
The 6th Annual Mac & Cheese Festival held on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at Destin Commons was a huge success. The event raised $60,000 in support of all local club kids. The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast is a local non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging, and influence through its programs focused on academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. "Our
Boys & Girls of the Emerald Coast Opens Summer 2024 Registration
Registration for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast summer program is now open. All registration will take place through the online parent portal. Learn more and register here.
American Legion Destin Announces 2024 Florida American Legion Boy’s State Program
American Legion Boys State is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for U.S. high school students. A participatory program in which students become part of the operation of local, county, and state government, Boys State was founded in 1935 to counter the socialism-inspired Young Pioneer Camps. The program was the idea of two Illinois Legionnaires, Hayes Kennedy and Harold Card, who organized the first Boys State at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in
CAA Partners With Boys & Girls Club Of The Emerald Coast To Expand Programs
The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of the Emerald Coast to expand its Youth Arts Education program for club members and produce a high-quality mural that will serve as a source of inspiration and education to club visitors and participants. The new 20’ x 20’ (approximate) mural installation is near completion and featured on the blue architectural wall at the entrance of the South Walton club on Boys & Girls Club Way near
Emerald Coast Theatre Company Presents Four Special Events
Emerald Coast Theatre Company (ECTC) at Grand Boulevard in Sandestin proudly presents four special events coming up in September and October. MDQ Mixtape, An Evening With Bryan Kennedy and Kevin Boyle, Comedy On the Boulevard, and Me and my Gal - A live Judy Garland and Gene Kelly Musical Tribute are all so different that they bring something for every audience. "There is nothing like a night at the theatre, whether you are signing along, laughing or grooving to the music. These four special events are
