Civic education is more important than ever. Get eight ideas for youth of all ages just in time for Civic Learning Week!
8 Ideas for Civic Learning Week
Youth For Unity: Laying the Foundations
The latest from BGCA's Youth for Unity program, plus thoughts on Afrofuturism and how it brings hope through entertainment.
Three Activities That Will Build Community Afterschool
Three creative activities that will get youth sharing about themselves and getting to know others.
5 Games That Don’t Need Supplies
No money? No problem! These five fun games don't need any supplies to get youth having fun.
Indoor Games That Incorporate Movement For Cold Days
Too cold to be outside? Here are games and activities that will get youth moving indoors when you don't have access to a Gym.
What We Are Thankful For in 2022
Hear what Club staff are grateful for as they look back on 2022, plus three low-prep activity ideas from TikTok for Thanksgiving week.
Connecting Youth to the Great Outdoors
Three activity ideas to get youth outside, featuring the new Outdoor Social Recreation Playbook.
Get Youth Writing With the NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program
November is NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month! Learn about free resources for young writers you can use afterschool.
It’s Fall, Y’all!
A bushelful of autumnal activities you can use afterschool.
Nine Spine-Tingling STEAM Activities for Halloween
Nine Halloween STEAM activities to get youth thinking and learning while having FUN!
IT’S CORN! Activity Ideas From a Viral Video
Corntastic activity ideas to use in your Arts, STEM, and Culinary programs afterschool.
Fascinating Flags! Creative Icebreaker Activity
This creative activity empowers youth to reflect on what makes them unique and to get to know their peers
Disney-Inspired Cultural Learning Activities
Using movies to inspire activity plans is FUN and can increase cultural appreciation! Get ideas for four popular Disney movies in this ClubX Blog post.
Four Quick Ideas to Bring the Energy UP!
Four quick activities to refocus youth and adjust energy levels that don't need any materials or preparation
5 Low-Prep High-Yield Activity Ideas
Five ideas for high-yield activities you can use with youth that require little to no preparation.
My Hair, My CROWN! Free Self-Esteem Workshop Resource
Learn more about an exciting resource that supports youth self-esteem and confidence from our partners at Dove.
Get Programming On-Demand With BGCA’s National Virtual Club!
BGCA's NEW National Virtual Club puts the best high-yield activities from Club staff across the country on your tv or device.
Ideas to Get Kids and Teens Writing
Activities that will empower youth to be creative, express themselves, and have fun through writing
Incorporating Workforce Readiness Into Summer Programming
Get youth of all ages making career connections this summer with these three great ideas.
Inspire Change Town Hall: Justice For All
Learn more about events on MyFuture, including the recent town hall sponsored by the NFL
Three Ways to Make Spring Break Better
Spring Break can be better than ever with these ideas for fun programming and staff development.
Exploring Career Opportunities Through Self-Discovery
Four ideas for helping youth follow their passions and explore career opportunities for National Careers Week
Seven COVID-Friendly Ideas for Summer Fun
Ideas from Clubs for field trips or special events that are COVID-friendly for summer programming
Winter Olympics Activities Throughout the Club
Integrate the 2022 Winter Olympics into your programming with these fun high-yield activity ideas!
Ideas to Celebrate the Lunar New Year
Ideas for crafts, games, books, and more to help you celebrate the Lunar New Year in your afterschool programming.
Get Lucky (And Build Math Skills) With Dice Games!
A roundup of games and high-yield activities using dice to use with youth.
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!
5 Ways to Use Canva Afterschool
The online design tool Canva is useful for a TON of projects in your afterschool program. Learn five of our favorites in this post!
18 More Holidays and Events With Fun Activity Ideas
Eighteen holidays or historical events in September and October to spark fun and creative activity ideas afterschool.
Get Squishy With Air Dry Clay!
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!
How MyFuture Fits Into Your Program Plans
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.
21 Holidays and Events With Fun Activity Ideas for the Summer
Twenty-one holidays or historical events in June, July, and August to spark fun and creative activity ideas afterschool.
More Ideas for Celebrating Asian American & Pacific Islander Month
May is Asian American & Pacific Islander Month! Use this list of activities and resources for building empathy to celebrate with youth.
17 MORE Holidays and Events With Fun Activity Ideas
Seventeen holidays or historical events in March, April, and May to spark fun and creative activity ideas
“The Hill We Climb”: Youth Voice Shining Bright
Video and text of the poem performed by the National Youth Poet Laureate at the Presidential Inauguration
Ideas for Black History Month
Ideas you can use around the Club for Black History Month
Among Us STEAM Adventure
Free download of STEAM activities based on the hit online game Among Us, created by local Boys & Girls Club staff
13 Holidays and Events to Spark FUN Activity Ideas
Thirteen holidays or historical events in January and February to spark fun and creative activity ideas
Fun and Easy Ideas for Brain Breaks
With so many young people still having school online, some Boys & Girls Clubs and Youth Centers are transformed into Learning Support Centers during the school day. But even for those who are still doing more traditional programming or for when COVID is OVER (speak it into existence!), having some ideas quick at hand for... Continue Reading →
Activities to Inspire Gratitude
Heading into the holiday season, especially with everything that has happened in 2020, I think it is a good time to reflect on what we are grateful for. And what better way to do that than alongside the youth we serve? The Ancient Roman statesman Cicero is quoted as saying Gratitude is not only the... Continue Reading →
Halloween 2020
Halloween is one of the best times of years to be in afterschool. When this whole pandemic began, I don’t think many of us expected we would still be dealing with it after this long. But? Here we are. And? WE REFUSE TO LET IT STEAL THE SPIRIT OF HALLOWEEN! https://giphy.com/gifs/halloween-psychedelic-spooky-mBH9e8yz4oNIIq6X3D It is unfortunately true... Continue Reading →
Take Four Calm Breaths
This post is part of our special series on the Coronavirus outbreak and contains a free activity download from our partners at the Michael Phelps Foundation. At Boys & Girls Clubs, we have a LOT of famous friends. I mean, we have DENZEL in our speed dial. Another one of our friends is the most successful... Continue Reading →
Celebrating Earth Day – Digitally!
BGCA's Lesa Sexton can't stop won't stop writing ClubX Blog posts filled with incredible educational ideas! With many of us stuck inside these days, we are gaining a newfound appreciation for the outdoors. What we wouldn’t give for a hike in the woods, a picnic in the park, or another chance to dip our toes... Continue Reading →
Developing Out of This World Problem Solvers
BGCA's Lesa Sexton is back and with these space themed activities she is shining a light on the total eclipse that is my heart. <3 It’s my firm belief that astronauts are about as superhuman as they come. I mean, you’d have to be superhuman to get through a rigorous application process in which you’re... Continue Reading →
Learning Through Making and Tinkering
This post, part of our special series on the Coronavirus outbreak, was written by Susan Ciavolino, BGCA Academic Success Director. What do our kids need right now? First and foremost they need connection—those 5 Key Elements for Positive Youth Development are even more crucial now than they were a few weeks ago when your Clubs were... Continue Reading →
Preventing the Spread of Viruses
The BGCA Youth Development team is committed to responding to what is happening in the lives of youth. Today, National Director of Youth Development Programs Danielle Morris is here with the latest on keeping Club staff and youth healthy. This post is part of our special series on the Coronavirus outbreak. I bet you’ve never... Continue Reading →
Pi Day Throughout the Club
Lesa Sexton is BACK with a ONE-TWO PUNCH of academic ideas! Today, we are having fun with math! It’s a common refrain heard from kids and adults alike: “I’m bad at math. I’m just not a math person.” Math doesn’t always get a lot of love, and we totally get it. It can seem daunting... Continue Reading →
3 Games Teens Love
BGCA sunset the Year of the Teen Director’s App to consolidate practices, tips, and all other content in the YD Toolbox app and here on the Club Experience Blog. We will be featuring some of the articles that appeared in the app here (with updates!), as well as content just for staff who work with... 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 →
Keeping it FRESH with 5 Game Remixes
Have you seen the latest Program Basics Playbook? It's the Gym & Field Playbook and it is WONDERFUL!!!!!!! The Gym & Field Playbook helps you prepare safe and effective programs in the gym and on the field. It provides ideas of how to program for the Sports & Recreation area, prep and run activities, recognize... Continue Reading →
