A Youth Development Resource From Boys & Girls Clubs of America
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?
Learn the six components necessary to make a YDPs first 90 days a success plus learn about the all new Youth Development Professional Onboarding Guide from BGCA.
Six ways to incorporate Workforce Readiness programming and principles throughout your afterschool program.
The online design tool Canva is useful for a TON of projects in your afterschool program. Learn five of our favorites in this post!
Book clubs afterschool are a great way for youth to build relationships with others and practice skills like critical thinking and reading fluency. Learn how to get started plus get picks for Hispanic & Latino Heritage Month.
Every year, we survey youth to learn about their Club Experience. Find out what we heard in 2021 and what questions it might raise for your Club in this new ClubX Blog post.
After two years of extraordinary circumstances, many of us are feeling tired. Learn more about compassion fatigue and tips to manage it, both in yourself and for your staff.
Read how one Club is putting books in their community's hands and how you can start a Little Free Library through your afterschool program.
The three categories of youth behavior and ways afterschool professionals should respond, featuring BGCA's Behavioral Support Toolkit.
Eighteen holidays or historical events in September and October to spark fun and creative activity ideas afterschool.
Find ideas on making your programming more dynamic and relevant than ever, including two new Passport to Manhood resources.
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.
Some reports suggest there may be a rise in self-harming behaviors in youth. Learn what self-harm is, why some engage in it, and what we can do to help.
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.
Air dry clay is paintable, super lightweight, and dries on its own, making it a great choice for summer crafts. Get 10 project ideas in this ClubX Blog post!
Five topics that today's teens told us they care about and why, plus how afterschool can cultivate youth voice.
Warning signs that a young person may need some extra support with their mental health, featuring resources for afterschool staff
One strategy for increasing teen membership afterschool is to invest in tween members now. Learn about four areas to keep in mind as you develop a tween strategy in this new ClubX Blog post.
MyFuture is the THE destination for high-quality activities and digital engagement, but how does it fit into your Club's programming? Learn how to structure a session with a MyFuture activity in this new post.
Hear how one Club stays connected to member's families and get the new Family and Caregiver Engagement Guide in this ClubX Blog post.
Fourteen questions to help youth open up about their life and start a conversation about mental health.
As Juneteenth is becoming more widely known, get ideas for learning more and sparking creativity with youth.
Twenty-one holidays or historical events in June, July, and August to spark fun and creative activity ideas afterschool.
May is Asian American & Pacific Islander Month! Use this list of activities and resources for building empathy to celebrate with youth.
Just in time for National Superhero Day, a peek at the newest Summer Brain Gain Modules with ideas for programming throughout the Club.
CQI is the perfect tool to get your team refocused, reenergized, and working together to improve the Club Experience for EVERYONE, both in your virtual and in-person programming.
A wave of state-level legislation around the rights of transgender youth is making headlines. Here's what is happening, why it is so important, and what we can do.
The high-profile violence against Black Americans during interactions with police continue to occur. Get resources to support the youth in your care, featuring the Passport to Manhood and NEW Smart Girls Growing Up Black Discussion Guides.
Five things to keep in mind about military-connected youth, and ideas to meet some of their unique needs
Learn more about online sexual exploitation, warning signs a young person might be being abused, and five ways to protect youth online in your afterschool program.
Four lessons on leadership Greg has learned through his wide-ranging career with Boys & Girls Clubs, plus four challenges you can use to reflect on your own leadership right where you are.
The rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans over the past year has rocked communities. In this ClubX Blog post, Michael from the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco shares his story.
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!
Four ways you can get involved in BGCA's national efforts and be a strong advocate for youth.
Seventeen holidays or historical events in March, April, and May to spark fun and creative activity ideas
Advice from one Boys & Girls Club on responding to discriminatory speech in a way that teaches youth how to change their behavior and value diversity in out-of-school time spaces.
Activity and décor ideas you can use around the Club for Women's History Month
Learn how the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Portland Metro Area integrated the Behavior Support Toolkit into their Equity and Trauma Informed Approach to youth development.
Learn more about how to get teens excited and engaged afterschool, with tips from six Teen Centers!
Video and text of the poem performed by the National Youth Poet Laureate at the Presidential Inauguration
Ideas you can use around the Club for Black History Month
Free download of STEAM activities based on the hit online game Among Us, created by local Boys & Girls Club staff
Resources to help guide youth through tough conversations about the events at the Capitol on January 6, 2021
Thirteen holidays or historical events in January and February to spark fun and creative activity ideas
A countdown of the top 5 new posts in 2020 on the ClubX Blog from Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Learn more about what youth behavior is actually saying and how we can respond, featuring BGCA's newest digital resource, the Behavior Support Toolkit,
The latest research on teens and how they are coping with COVID-19 plus the new BGCA resource SMART Moves: Emotional Wellness Teen Expansion Pack that can help.
Four of BGCA's best resources to help your Club or Youth Center programming staff to be successful in 2021.
What Boys & Girls Club staff across the country are grateful for during this challenging yet rewarding year.
BGCA's Lesa Sexton is back with tips on getting families and caregivers engaged in your program, and be sure to grab the details for an upcoming webinar at the end of this post! There are a lot of pithy sayings that just ring true. Don't judge a book by its cover. An ounce of prevention... Continue Reading →
