2018 Year in Review

2018! WHAT A YEAR!

It has been a GREAT year for Boys & Girls Clubs across the Movement, and it has been an INCREDIBLE year for the ClubX Blog! This is our first full calendar year, and I’ve been so excited for all the support. So how did the year end up looking? I MADE AN INFOGRAPHIC Y’ALL!

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WOW! Those are some big numbers!

I am especially proud of having the opportunity to feature 22! Club Stories in 2018. Did you catch them all?

Another new partnership that I am excited about not just for the amazing 2018 content, but for the posts that we are already planning for 2019, is with the new Youth Trends team at BGCA. They are on the cutting edge of culture and important issues that affect the youth of this country, and always share their latest here on the blog. Check the Youth Trends tag for posts from 2018 on LGBTQ youth, consent and sexual assault, youth activism, cyberbullying, and more.

The ClubX Blog has so much room for posts on activities! And we used a lot of it this year with a bunch of posts that give you ideas for all areas of your Club. Many are tied to seasons or to special “holiday” weeks, but can be used at any time. Check the Activities tag for posts from 2018 on DIY music, Club-tested chemistry, gifts to make in the art room, ways to use pool noodles, cultivating kindness, activities for parties instead of serving food, one of my favorite games ever- Dumb Debates, and more. Rest assured, more posts like this are planned for 2019!

Overall, 2018 has been a huge success. I am so thankful for everyone who has visited the blog, shared our posts, contributed ideas, and subscribed either through this site or followed the BGCA Youth Development Facebook (new this year!). All the success is because of you! It is an honor and a gift to manage this little corner of the internet, and I am grateful I get to do it.

We will only be able to reach these same heights in 2019 if we have YOUR input! There are three major ways to contribute:

  1. Read and share our posts! If you see something that your colleagues may find useful, tag them in a post on Facebook or send them the link. We are still working on making sure everyone at Boys & Girls Clubs know that we exist, so sharing is a HUGE help!
  2. Comment your ideas and adaptations! Every Club is different, and we are masters at adapting activities and lessons to fit our contexts. Let us know what you did! If you tried something and it went well, tell us! If you tried something and it went horribly, tell us! If you have a prior experience, tell us! There are comment sections both on each blog post and on Facebook. They can become really rich places for deeper learning if we utilize them well.
  3. Become a ClubX Blog contributor! It is SO EASY to become one of the writers on the Blog. I know how precious little time you have, so I am dedicated to making it a positive experience. There are lots of ways to do it, from writing a post yourself to just scheduling a phone interview with me. I want to increase our number of Club Stories every year, and will only be able to do so with your partnership. To start, just shoot me an email at ClubXBlog@bgca.org and I’ll work with you!

Planning is already underway for 2019, and there are some TREATS IN STORE. I can’t wait for you to read them. And I can’t wait to get to know more of you. I hope your year was just as successful as mine, and I’ll see you right back here next week. 🙂

What are your highlights from 2018? What are your best ideas that the Movement needs to hear? Comment below, on the BGCA Youth Development Facebook page, or email us at ClubXBlog@bgca.org to share!

 

 

 

 

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