The online design tool Canva is useful for a TON of projects in your afterschool program. Learn five of our favorites in this post!
5 Ways to Use Canva Afterschool
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.
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.
5 Ways to Engage Families and Caregivers Afterschool
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 →
Parenting During a Pandemic
This post, part of our special series on the Coronavirus outbreak, was written by Omar Guessous, BGCA National Director of Evaluation and Insights. A bad dad joke a day keeps the doctor away. Okay not really, but let’s try anyway. Today, my son asked "Can I have a book mark?" and I burst into tears. 11... Continue Reading →
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 →
Club Story: Night Out & Night In
I heard about an event that the staff at the Don Kromer Branch of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County puts on, and I absolutely had to hear more! Here's my conversation with Branch Director LaCharles Green on how their Club does recognition in a special way. First, tell me a little bit... Continue Reading →
Introverts in Afterschool: 5 Tips For Helping Quiet Youth Thrive
When I think of the average Boys & Girls Club, my mind goes straight to the Gamesroom. Often the heart of the Clubhouse. Loud, chaotic, busy, and fun! The next thing my mind goes to? How 8 year old Sarah would have HATEDDDDDDD the Gamesroom. The reason? 8 year old me was (and 30-something year... Continue Reading →
National College Signing Day: 9 Ways to Celebrate Seniors and Their Next Steps
It's SIGNING SEASON Y'ALL! Read on as we welcome first-time ClubX Blog contributor Stacy Ruff for ideas to celebrate your graduating seniors making decisions about their next steps. As graduating seniors get ready to step into the realities of “adulting”, one of the biggest decisions they start off with is “where do I go from... Continue Reading →
Club Story: Recognizing FUN In Virginia
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 →
Incentivizing Skill Building in Boston: With FREE “Karate Belt” Reward System Download!
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 →
Recognition Through Shout-Out Displays – Lots of Decor Ideas
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 →
5 Strategies to Improve Staff Recognition
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 →
Club Story: 3 Ways to CELEBRATE After Surveying!
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 →
8 Creative Member Work Displays
A new year is upon us! Time to start fresh and do all the things we know we should do. Like drink so much water, start running marathons, and eat broccoli at every meal. LOL SURE. One simple way we can hit the reset button is by refreshing our program spaces at the Club! This... Continue Reading →
Visualizing Goal Tracking
I am not an artsy person. I know it's hard to believe what with this amazing blog and all (wink wink), but I am just not. One of my least favorite things both in my classroom when I was teaching and in my program area at the Club was creating bulletin boards. Luckily, there are... Continue Reading →
