The latest from BGCA's Youth for Unity program, plus thoughts on Afrofuturism and how it brings hope through entertainment.
Youth For Unity: Laying the Foundations
Creating Club Experiences Where Trans Youth are Expected, Respected, and Connected
Learn more about creating safe afterschool environments where trans youth can thrive PLUS learn how Tier 2 National Trainers can be entered to win $500 for completing the new LGTBQ+ specialization.
Fascinating Flags! Creative Icebreaker Activity
This creative activity empowers youth to reflect on what makes them unique and to get to know their peers
New Data on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health And What We Must Do
New data from The Trevor Project on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health shines a light on why Pride is still important, plus resources from BGCA and others to support your work.
What is Quality? A Youth Perspective
Hear teens share what high-quality programming afterschool means to them, featuring our friends at VOX ATL
Club Stories: What We Are Thankful For in 2021
Because it's always good to hear the good, I recently asked Boys & Girls Club staff across the country what they are thankful for this year.
Everything You Need to Start a Book Club With Youth
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.
NYOI 2021: The Club Experience During a Pandemic
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.
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.
Tips for Retaining Tweens
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.
Juneteenth: Ideas for Celebrating Black Liberation, Culture, Connection, and Joy!
As Juneteenth is becoming more widely known, get ideas for learning more and sparking creativity with youth.
More Ideas for Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, & Pacific Islander Month
May is Asian American & Pacific Islander Month! Use this list of activities and resources for building empathy to celebrate with youth.
Beyond Empathy: Combating Racism Against Asian Americans
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.
Club Stories: What We Are Thankful For in 2020
What Boys & Girls Club staff across the country are grateful for during this challenging yet rewarding year.
9 Low-Cost Ways to Recognize Youth
A couple of weeks ago we posted a list of free ways to recognize youth, but sometimes you have a little bit of budget and you want to do something more out of the ordinary. While physical gifts and treats should not be the only way we do recognition (they shouldn't even really be the... Continue Reading →
11 Free Ways to Recognize Youth
I'm a huge awards season nerd. Golden Globes, SAG Awards, Oscars . . . these are my Super Bowls. I watch as many of the nominated shows and movies as I can, fill out my ballots, and tune in for the big events. January - February? MY TIME TO SHINE. I just love recognizing amazing... 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 →
How to Find Books for Multicultural Children’s Book Day
On the ClubX Blog, we love inclusion, diversity, reading, and celebrations. All of these come together in Multicultural Children's Book Day! To help you bring it to your youth, I'm serving bulleted list realness. First observed in 2012, the mission of Multicultural Children's Book Day is to raise awareness for Children's Literature that celebrate diversity,... Continue Reading →
Club Stories: What We Are Thankful For
I recently asked Club staff across the country what they are thankful for this year. Here are some of their responses. I am thankful for our wonderful staff. They really value the ability they have to impact our Club members and see each day as an opportunity to change lives! - Michael from Boys &... Continue Reading →
Club Story: Responding to a Community Need in Michigan
One of the greatest strengths of Boys & Girls Clubs are how embedded we are in local communities. This is why we were so excited to hear about the Summer Migrant Program at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Holland! It is a wonderful example of a Club organization 1) identifying a local community need, 2) figuring out... Continue Reading →
Club Story: Finding the Right Equation in Green Bay
It's National Arts in Education Week! Today's Club Story comes from Craig Knitt, Visual Arts Director at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Green Bay. I heard a statement early in my teaching career that has stuck with me. I heard it from more than one instructor so I knew it was true. They said:... Continue Reading →
28 Ideas for Door Decor Throughout the Clubhouse
Summer is winding down (with some schools already back in session), and it is time to start thinking about switching up that decor! I always had a hard time coming up with ways to change my bulletin boards and decor in my Education Room at the Club. Its partly why I've been diligent about posting... Continue Reading →
Club Story: Whatever It Takes To Be Inclusive
Continuing the celebration of Pride in our Movement, we are proud to share this post from Erin Wigley, Education Director at the Fort Craig Club of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley. She is sharing her personal experience as a queer woman, keeping our youth safe, and ways in which we can make... Continue Reading →
Club Stories: Pride in Our Movement
June is here and it’s time to celebrate! In the United States, June became the month to celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan. 2019 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the uprising that played a pivotal role in human rights progression within the United... Continue Reading →
Club Story: Celebrating Traditions in American Samoa
It'a Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month! In case you missed it, earlier this month we took a look at the history of this observance, ways you can celebrate at your Club, and we were introduced to LaCresha McManus and her journey within the Movement as a woman of Samoan heritage. Read that post here! LaCresha was... Continue Reading →
Autism Awareness Day: Tips for Navigating Three Common Afterschool Scenarios
April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day, a time to promote education about the condition and inclusion of those affected. According to the CDC, 1 in 59 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and the prevalence is growing. But while many people have heard the term “autism”, they may not fully know what... Continue Reading →
Club Story: Bringing Culture and Technology Together for Native Youth
The ClubX Blog is celebrating Native Heritage Month all November long! For today’s post, I chatted with Adam Ortiz, Pascua Yaqui Clubhouse Director at Boys & Girls Club of Tuscon, about the importance of cultural programming and an exciting partnership that brought the latest technology to their members. The first question is always the same-... Continue Reading →
It’s World Kindness Day! Link Roundup
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 →
November is Native Heritage Month! Ideas For All Clubs
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 →
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 →
9 DIY Music Activities for the Summer!
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 →
How to Use Craft Sticks to Group Youth in Four Creative Ways
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 →
Are Your Club Bathrooms Beautiful? LOTS of Photo Ideas!
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 →
Club Story: Making it WORK at Our Small Club!
I have a soft spot in my heart for small Clubs, which is why I am SO THANKFUL that I met Breeana Gonzales, Unit Director at the Laughlin Unit of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Colorado River. Her small Club is doing BIG things in Nevada! Read on to learn how they make it... Continue Reading →
Ted Talk: How Do You Define Yourself?
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 →
Free Printable STEM Posters
Looking for some new art for your program areas? One of my favorite websites, A Mighty Girl, has free printable posters celebrating pioneering women in Science. They are absolutely beautiful, and include NASA astronaut Mae Jemison, keynote speaker at BGCA's 2017 National Conference! A Mighty Girl not only links to the posters, but gives a... Continue Reading →
Club Story: Cowboy Ethics
Boys & Girls Clubs set high standards, not just for members, but for their communities. By adopting and developing programming around the Cowboy Ethics Code of the West, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming have had a HUGE impact that spread state-wide. I recently spoke with Sara Beth Lyon, the Cowboy Ethics Outreach Coordinator, to... Continue Reading →
Webinar: Culture of Wellness From Club to Club
This month's Culture of Wellness webinar is going to be AWESOME. The full title is "From Club to Club: Effective Strategies and Clever Ideas." Check out the description: The Boys & Girls Club Movement is rich with promising practices. We have more to learn from one another than from any other source. This webinar will... Continue Reading →
Family Matters
Just admit it. You TOTALLY heard this in your head when you read that headline. (Did I just age myself? That's ok. I am proud to be a part of the TGIF generation!) Here at BGCA, we do a ton of research into what makes for a great Club Experience. What we've discovered is that... Continue Reading →
It’s Native American Heritage Month! Plus Read-Alouds
Here on the Club Experience Blog we are thrilled to join with BGCA and our Native Services Unit to celebrate Native American Heritage Month during November. The amazing work that the Native Services team and our Clubs that serve Native Youth do has been one of my favorite parts of the Movement to learn about.... Continue Reading →
Club Story: A Vision of Family
I am thrilled to bring you a conversation I recently had with Floretta Robinson, Club Director at THE PLAYERS Championship Unit of Boys & Girls Clubs of North Florida, located in wonderful, glorious St. Augustine. (Which, full disclosure, holds a VERY SPECIAL place in my heart as I graduated from Flagler College and then worked... Continue Reading →
Webinar: How PBS’ ‘Arthur’ Resources Support Prosocial Behavior and Critical Literacy
Teaching Tolerance is one of my FAVORITE websites, and you'll likely see it pop up on the blog pretty often. They have tons of great stuff. While it is aimed at classroom educators, most of it is super adaptable to the Club context, plus they have a lot of excellent learning tools for staff. While... Continue Reading →
Webinar: Supporting LGBTQ Youth
This month's Culture of Wellness Webinar is on supporting LGBTQ youth in your Club. Here's the description: Boys & Girls Clubs have a responsibility to provide a safe, positive and inclusive environment for ALL youth, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Join us for tips and best practices on creating an inclusive... Continue Reading →
Welcome Back Bulletin Boards From Across the Movement!
The way we decorate the physical spaces in our Clubs are an important part in setting a welcoming environment. Here are some great bulletin boards that Clubs have created this month to welcome their kids to a new school year! Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast in Florida, photos from Bertram Little Boys &... Continue Reading →
Ensuring Equity in Your Club Through Disability Inclusion
This guest post is by Kathryn King, MSRA, from Kids Included Together. Kids Included Together (KIT) is honored to be a partner with BGCA to ensure equity for youth with disabilities and their families. Equity is often thought about in terms of race or ethnicity, but individuals with disabilities are also an underserved population. According to the World... Continue Reading →
Club Story: The Importance of Inclusion
Today's guest post is from BGCA's own Katie Lee, and is from her time as Director of the Samuel L. Jones Club of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta. Have you ever had a parent tell you they didn’t want you to meet their child until after they had the chance to talk... Continue Reading →
Ted Talk: Do Schools Kill Creativity?
TED Talks are short, powerful speeches, delivered without the use of notes, with the goal of spreading ideas. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design, but now the talks cover a wide variety of topics. They are generally 20 minutes or less, and are GREAT tools to use whether with youth or with staff or... Continue Reading →
Club Story: The Notebook
This guest post is from Monika Keenan, Branch Director at the Pigeon Forge Branch of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Smoky Mountains. In the midst of our hectic days, sometimes it’s hard to see the individual kid through the crowd. Then something happens and that one kid makes all the noise, chaos, and confusion... Continue Reading →
Activity Idea: Guess Who Cards
Since this is the start of a new school year, and many Clubs may have new members or your groups may have combined/changed, here is a GREAT activity to help members get to know each other and have some fun in the process! https://www.pinterest.com/pin/668854982130114786/ Direct Link: http://shelleygrayteaching.com/time-filler-idea-guess-who-cards/ What other get to know you games have you... Continue Reading →
