What the data says about youth mental health right now and what we can do to support the young people in our care
The State of Youth Mental Health
Vaping: How to Have the Conversation With Youth
On recent surveys of Boys & Girls Club CEOs and Club Directors, when we asked what resources would be helpful, understanding and preventing the use of vaping came up over and over. BGCA’s Youth Trends team has created a brand new guide to help Clubs learn about this phenomenon. What is Vaping? E-cigarettes were first… Continue Reading →
What Clubs Can Do to Prevent Youth Suicide
This week the ClubX Blog and the Youth Trends team are marking National Suicide Prevention Week. Be sure to check out the accompanying Club Story for more guidance. If you or someone you know is in need of support, seek help immediately. You can call the free, confidential National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)… Continue Reading →
Creating Community Partnerships to Support LGBTQ Youth
Today’s post is from Rachel Greene-Wilber of the Youth Trends team here at BGCA. As Boys & Girls Clubs, we strive to promote inclusive environments. This week, we are highlighting how establishing community partnerships can advance that goal and improve the experience of our Club members. The Komatke Boys & Girls Club, located in the… Continue Reading →
Registering Youth to Vote: A State-By-State Guide *UPDATED for 2020!
“To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.” In the United States, one of the best ways that we can be citizens is by exercising our right to vote. Unfortunately, younger adults, including Millennials and post-Millennials, are the least likely of all… Continue Reading →
Creating Safer Spaces for LGBTQ Youth
Today’s post comes from BGCA’s Youth Program Design & Trends Team. June is for warm weather, summer Club activities and LGBTQ Pride Month! In celebrating Pride Month, we are thrilled to partner with GLSEN in supporting the 16% of Club teens who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual, or Questioning (LGBTQ). GLSEN is the leading… Continue Reading →
2019 Year In Review
2019 brought us so many gifts. From Lizzo to the chicken sandwich war, “Sorry to this man” to Baby Yoda. Even if you weren’t a VSCO girl, 2019 was a great year, and that also rings true for the ClubX Blog. We had a blast, and since we LOVE data at BGCA, we’ve got the… Continue Reading →
Inclusive Ways to Celebrate the Holidays!
We LOVE the holiday season on the ClubX Blog! BGCA’s Youth Trends team is bringing the festive cheer with inclusive ways to celebrate all the traditions that may be happening in the lives of your Club members. The holidays are a time when people come together and celebrate traditions. While Christmas tends to be the… Continue Reading →
No Passport? No Problem! It’s Summer Reading!
Our very own resident librarian and newest member of the Youth Trends team, Shannon Lake, is here to deliver the BEST tips to encourage summer reading including a free download from the BGCA’s Power Hour Resource Guide! Summer is almost here and it’s time for you and your members to take a trip! No passport,… Continue Reading →
What Afterschool Can Do to Prevent Child Sex Trafficking
This week the ClubX Blog and the Youth Trends team are marking Child Abuse Prevention Month with a focus on the prevention of Child Sex Trafficking. If a child you know is in need of support, call the 24/7 National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 to speak with a trained professional advocate at any time…. Continue Reading →
Responding to Online Viral Challenges
Are your youth talking about a viral challenge or a new online urban legend? Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Youth Trends team is here to help! Find a printable one-page version of this content at the end of the post. What are Viral Challenges? With the rise of social media it can seem like… Continue Reading →
National Girls & Women in Sports Day: Getting Girls Involved at Your Club
This week we are celebrating National Girls & Women in Sports Day on the ClubX Blog! Today’s post is written by BGCA Youth Trends Intern Sam Williams. Click here for Part 2! The Super Bowl may have just passed, but there’s another important sports event on the horizon… On February 6, 2019, join BGCA in… Continue Reading →
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service: Tips and Ideas for a Successful Service Project
“Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Inspire your Club members to transform Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s teachings into community action. Join us on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as we celebrate one man’s dream to make the world a better place. This is a great time to engage in youth-led… Continue Reading →
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… Continue Reading →
Cyberbullying: Warning Signs and Resources for Prevention
BGCA’s Youth Trends team is at it again with this mashup of information for October’s National Bullying Prevention Month AND Cybersafety Month. We know young people spend A LOT on time online and on social media. Approximately 95% of teens have access to a smartphone, and 45% say they are online ‘almost constantly’. YouTube, Instagram,… Continue Reading →
Addressing Consent and the Movie “Show Dogs”
BGCA’s Child & Club Safety and Youth Trends teams recently learned about some controversy surrounding a recent film release. Keep reading for a list of free resources for discussing consent that can be used alongside the film or at any time with your members. The movie Show Dogs was recently released in theaters as a fun… Continue Reading →
IT’S CORN! Activity Ideas From a Viral Video
Corntastic activity ideas to use in your Arts, STEM, and Culinary programs afterschool.
Five Issues Teens Care About in 2022
Teens have a lot on their minds, including these five topics chosen by the 2022 Keystone Conference Steering Committee.
Catch A Vibe With Tie Dye Activities!
Tie dye is back in fashion and allows for lots of creativity as a fun arts project with youth. See some of our favorite ideas in this link roundup!
Social Media’s Impact on Young Women: Understanding the Headlines
News about the impact of social media, particularly Instagram, on the mental health of young people has recently made headlines. But what does it really mean, and how does it impact our work in afterschool?
The Four Things Rhode Island Boys & Girls Clubs Are Focused On In 2021
When Rhode Island Clubs surveyed youth statewide to find out how they were doing, the results were surprising. Learn more and what they will be focusing on in 2021.
Four New Stats That Should Make Us Think
Four new stats from the 2021 KIDS COUNT Data Book that can inform our work in out-of-school time, plus tools for putting that data into action.
Five Issues Teens Care About in 2021
Five topics that today’s teens told us they care about and why, plus how afterschool can cultivate youth voice.
Being Great Without Being Perfect
Anna is warm, witty, and welcoming, and things sometimes aren’t perfect as she leads programming at the Waltham Boys & Girls Club. But that just adds to the fun!
