A Youth Development Resource From Boys & Girls Clubs of America
We here on the Youth Development team at BGCA are SO EXCITED to be rolling out the brand new Program Basics suite! If you haven't heard, Program Basics is a collection of resources to support youth development professionals, program directors, and site directors in planning and delivering high-quality programming in their Clubs. We've partnered with... Continue Reading →
Today's link roundup comes from Rebecca Brown, Director of Arts Programs at BGCA. You'll be seeing her on the ClubX Blog often! It’s that time of year again, time to give thanks for our family and friends, and to show those we care about our appreciation and gratitude. Oh and also . . . presents!... Continue Reading →
One of the most popular ClubX Blog posts is this one about a creative icebreaker challenge. Since I'm ALL ABOUT delivering what the people want, I went on the hunt for another great opening activity that would work in Boys & Girls Clubs. And GOOD NEWS! I found one! This engineering challenge called Can You Save... Continue Reading →
I recently came across this article about the fact that in just about every developed country, girls are reading more than boys. Some key points: Boys dedicate less than than girls to processing words, are more prone to skipping passages or entire sections, and frequently choose books beneath their reading levels. Girls are more likely to... Continue Reading →
November 13 is World Kindness Day! Kindness is one of the character traits that we all hope to cultivate in the youth we serve. But how do we teach kindness? Today on the ClubX Blog we've got a roundup of some of the best ideas for activity plans from around the web. This video is... Continue Reading →
One of the building blocks of the Five Key Elements is Recognition. At Clubs and Youth Centers, we use authentic gestures and encouragement to positively reinforce the good decisions, efforts, and successes of our youth. Recently, I learned about a great recognition idea from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Virginia, so I chatted... Continue Reading →
We mark a lot of different occasions here at Boys & Girls Clubs of America, but in this humble blog's opinion, one stands above the rest- Native Heritage Month! Every November, BGCA's Native Services team puts together some amazing resources. It's a time of year to reflect on what indigenous heritage means and to share... Continue Reading →
Today I'm excited to be sharing one of my FAVORITE online resources that I used both as a middle school history teacher and in the Education room with my tweens and teens at the Club- iCivics. Since there is a ton of media coverage right now on civic engagement with the election right around the... Continue Reading →
Through my friendship with the Music & Youth Initiative, I learned about an incredible skill-building incentive system developed by Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston staff member Anders Olson. Read on to learn more about how he uses guitar picks to encourage youth and get a FREE download of his plan! We always start with... Continue Reading →
We are all about the random fun celebrations here on the ClubX Blog, so when I saw National Color Day on the list, I couldn't resist. I reached out to Rebecca Brown, Director of Arts Programs here at BGCA, and we made a list of some of our favorite colorful activities that you can use... Continue Reading →
At Boys & Girls Clubs, one of our greatest strengths is being able to expose our members to all kinds of opportunities through creative programming. I had the opportunity to visit the Music Clubhouse at the A. Worley Brown Boys & Girls Club, part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta. (My first... Continue Reading →
When I shared the first two posts in our recent Party Ideas series (Easy Party Food Ideas That AREN’T Pizza and Activity Ideas for Parties INSTEAD of Food) with a group of Club professionals, they DELIVERED with even more great ideas! Even better, a lot of these ideas are on the healthier side of the food spectrum.... Continue Reading →
Today's guest post is from Susan Ciavolino, Director of Youth Development Programs here at BGCA. Read on for 4!!! Club approved chemistry activity plans! The holidays are coming! Which is your favorite? Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah? Well, there’s another good one coming soon. National Chemistry Week is October 21-27!! Granted, it’s probably not the holiday... Continue Reading →
At my Club and in my former life as a classroom teacher, I was always looking for fun themes to help spark my creative flow. Once I had a theme in mind, I worked to adapt games or activities we were already going to do, or had done before, to the theme to keep things... Continue Reading →
We recently featured a post with easy party food ideas that AREN'T pizza, and it was a hit! Today the ClubX Blog is bringing you part two, which will give lots of activity ideas for parties or celebrations INSTEAD of food. As a reminder, these ideas aren't necessarily for big blow-out events. (You can get... Continue Reading →
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 →
WE MADE IT THROUGH ANOTHER SUMMERRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!! We did it, and our members had a great time. Now we are all back into the rhythm of the school year, which gives us time to breathe and to put all the extra energy we have into planning Club programming! (And also maybe our families and self care... Continue Reading →
"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 →
Today's Club Story comes from Tiffanie Panagakos at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine. When I found out she ran a Newspaper Club, I HAD to learn more. Turns out she is doing all kinds of amazing things in Maine, so this won't be the last time you hear from her! First, can you... Continue Reading →
One of the Five Key Elements for Positive Youth Development is recognition. We know that when staff acknowledge young people's innate strengths and talents, members feel validated and recognized. We can positively reinforce member's efforts and persistence through authentic gestures and words of praise, and celebrate their progress and successes. We can recognize youth for a... Continue Reading →
Today's guest post is from the staff team at Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley's Little Chute Elementary Unit. They hosted a data reveal party when this year's NYOI data was released, and it was a blast! We will hear from two perspectives in this first-of-a-kind post, first from a staff member and... Continue Reading →
One of the greatest strengths of Boys & Girls Club staff is our creativity with unconventional and affordable materials. I know at my Club I was always thinking about how I could do the most with the least. As we are now in the downward slope of summer, stores will begin to clear out their... Continue Reading →
Today's guest post comes from Juanita Gonzales of Boys & Girls Clubs of North Alabama. (And the second Alabama post in a row!) She is famous for going ALL OUT with Club celebrations, and let me just tell you, talking to her the best! Her joy is infectious! Read on to learn more about her... Continue Reading →
Today's guest post is one of a two-part series for the 2018 National Keystone Conference. For the other post, written by a member of the Keystone Conference Steering Committee, click here! Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate... Continue Reading →
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 →
This past Spring, I facilitated BGCA's Club Director's Academy in San Antonio. It was a BLAST! (If you haven't been to a CDA yet, what are you doing with your life? Learn more on BGCA.net.) We cover so much great stuff in this three-day training, but there is one particular reflection activity I knew I... Continue Reading →
YAY SUMMER!!!!!!!!! Summer at the Club is one of the busiest and BEST times of year. The extra time means we can get really creative with programming and activities. It also means a PACKED daily schedule with no down time. Here on the ClubX Blog we understand that this season is a crazy (good!) one,... Continue Reading →
The Music & Youth Initiative has partnered with Clubs around the country to help start and maintain music programming. They've recently released a FREE summer activity kit that any Club can use! Keep reading to learn more. Are you looking for fun, “Do It Yourself” activities that have a musical theme? We’ve got you covered!... Continue Reading →
One of the categories we ask youth about on the NYOI is whether or not they feel a sense of belonging at their Club. When young people feel that they belong, they know that they are welcome, and they feel that they fit in and are accepted. There are many ways to encourage a sense... Continue Reading →
Today's guest post, and third in our series on Pulse Checks, is from Max Fenster from Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada, where Club staff have been piloting exit polls for a year. Read on to discover what they've learned! Nearly a year ago, we began using exit polling to get feedback from our... Continue Reading →
Today's guest post is from Brandy Harris from Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield, where they have been LOVING Pulse Checks. Read on to find out how they use them at their Club! Webster Dictionary (probably) defines pulse checks as this cool thing should be implemented at Clubs across the globe and that a bunch... Continue Reading →
Something that comes up over and over is making sure that our Club spaces are clean, fresh, and beautifully designed. I know in my Club, we were required to change out our bulletin board displays and other decor several times a year. But I've found that public spaces, like hallways, offices, and bathrooms tend to... Continue Reading →
Omar Guessous is back on the ClubX Blog to introduce a brand new resource for collecting youth feedback! Read on for a free excerpt! I’ll be honest with you. When I first learned about NYOI 5 years ago while working with Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, I was struck that it was only... Continue Reading →
We've brought back one of our OG programs- The Ultimate Journey! Read on to learn more and get a FREE sample download! One of BGCA's most valuable services to the Movement is the creation of programs and toolkits for Clubs to use throughout the year. We've got programs for academic success, athletics, health, arts, and... Continue Reading →
It is that time of year when we are planning parties and celebrations and end of the school year FUN (and real talk there may be some trying to hang on until summer starts happening too)! That makes it the perfect time to try out a new game that is SURE to be a hit... Continue Reading →
Today's guest post comes from BGCA's Lauren Barineau, Senior Director of Youth Development, Health & Wellness. She is an expert in making sure our members are as healthy as they can be! Is Your Club HEPA-Tastic?? In recent years, more attention is being paid to healthy eating and physical activity among youth. At Boys &... Continue Reading →
I'm always looking for new activities and games to play with youth, and especially for ones that will make them stretch their logical thinking muscles and expose them to new ideas or cultures. Today's find from Multicultural Kids Blogs does ALL of those! Pong Hau K'i is a simple board game from China, and can... Continue Reading →
If you've been to a Club Director's Academy or a Youth Development Institute, then you will know (and love!) today's writer, Issa Prescott. I've been hounding him for a blog post because I know he is full of SO MANY good ideas! I was delivering a training recently where we were discussing the power of... Continue Reading →
Most of our meetings here at BGCA start with icebreaker or community building activities, because we are YOUTH! DEVELOPMENT! PROFESSIONALS! 🙂 Last week, my colleague Danielle Narcisse started a design meeting off with this really fun way to get our creativity flowing. This activity is called The 30 Circles Challenge, and it is an icebreaker... Continue Reading →
A couple of weeks ago, I asked around to find out what Clubs did to celebrate the release of Black Panther. The answer is A LOT! I am thrilled to share my conversation with Lauren Avey, Unit Director from the Boys & Girls Club of Washington County about how her Club integrated meaningful programming with... Continue Reading →
A couple of weeks ago, Desirae O’Neill, Associate Director at the Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club, shared some of her best tips for administering surveys. We are THRILLED that she is back to share about the best part of NYOI- the celebration! Congratulations! You made it to the finish line. Not only did you make it... Continue Reading →
This post is adapted from The School Walkout: An Adult Ally Guide by Youth Era. In the wake of recent tragedies such as the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School, youth have quickly become leaders in the discussion around gun control legislation. On March 24, youth and families will take the streets of Washington DC... Continue Reading →
Sláinte! St. Patrick's Day is just 'round the bend! We look for every opportunity to have fun while also learning at the Boys & Girls Club, so this festive holiday is the perfect time to plan some themed activities. Read on to find some great ideas to use throughout the Club. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/668854982132577802/ At this link,... Continue Reading →
Not long before I made the move from a local Club to BGCA, I started playing a game with my middle grades members that they LOVED. I adapted it from something I heard on a podcast and called it Dumb Debates. It is hilarious and ridiculous, but sneaks in the important skills of logical thinking,... Continue Reading →
Today's guest post is from Desirae O'Neill, Associate Director at the Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club. They've been *rock stars* in how they give the NYOI, and I am so excited that we can share three of their best tips here on the Blog as part of our Let's Talk Data series! It’s official.... Continue Reading →
Are you looking for an excuse to have FUN? Here's a list of 105 oddball holidays that you can incorporate into fun moments at your Club. Some of them are IDEAL for the Club space, such as March 15th's Absolutely Incredible Kid Day April 20th's Lookalike Day- dress like a friend September 19th's International Talk... Continue Reading →
UPDATE to this post! Check out this Club Story to find out how one Club used Black Panther in their programming. I know I am in the MAJORITY here when I say that I am SO PUMPED FOR BLACK PANTHER!!!!!!!! It is going to be incredible. INCREDIBLE! I've already got my ticket. So I had... Continue Reading →
Ted Talks are short speeches given on various topics, and many of them are really great jumping off points for discussions with youth. We will share some of our favorites here on the Club Experience Blog. Today, I bring you one of the most popular Ted Talks, "How do you define yourself" by Lizzie Velasquez.... Continue Reading →
Today's guest post kicks off a new series on the ClubX Blog- "In My Club We..."! Mikayla Cope of Boys & Girls Club of the Gila Valley shares a free behavior management tool that has been a HUGE help at her Club. Read on to learn more about Class Dojo! Class Dojo is a behavior... Continue Reading →
This game comes from the files of our very own Alise Dixon! It kicks the classic Club game of billiards up a notch and works in self-reflection on character traits. Good Character Pool Ages: 10-15 Equipment Needed: Pool table, ball, cues, 6 slips of paper, tape Group Size: 2 at a time As in standard... Continue Reading →
