When I was in college, I took a summer job at the local Boys & Girls Club of America (BGCA). It was an amazing experience to see the community come together to offer the local youths some structure and programming. For many of the children, the BGCA was the only thing they had to look forward to and was their primary source of social support and interaction. Having them in a safe place kept them off the streets and I really believe in the organization. It helped to teach them about appropriate social interactions and gave them a health outlet.
This year, the organization is celebrating National Boys & Girls Club Week (April 7-13) by encouraging everyone to "Open the door. Take the tour". You and your family can visit a local club to see what it is all about. If you are unable to visit it, you can take a virtual Club tour. It is a great way to see how the organization functions. The virtual tour closely represented the experience I had when I worked at the agency a decade ago. The thing I remember most, which you can see if you take a tour, are all the smiles and genuine excitement from the children.
In addition to the tours, Clubs across America have some fun daily activities planned for children members, their parents, and the community. Events include teen forums, carnivals, health fairs, and more. Some Clubs are also giving back to the community through organized volunteering.
The schedule for the week includes the following:
Monday, April 8 - Open the Door to Education
Tuesday, April 9 - Open the Door to Technology
Wednesday, April 10 - Open the Door to Character & Citizenship
Thursday, April 11 - Open the Door to Healthy Lifestyles
Friday, April 12 - Open the Door, Take the Tour
For more information on how you can help support National Boys & Girls Club Week, please visit the BGCA website. If you have any personal experiences with the Club, feel free to comment below!
I wrote this review while participating in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. I received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate
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