Age 13-18
Teen programs, designed specifically for ages 13-18, provide meaningful experiences today so teens are ready to chase their dreams tomorrow.
These initiatives focus on meeting the significant and specific needs identified within Boys & Girls Clubs. Their broad scope complements several or all of our core program areas.
Teen Initiatives
If you’re in middle or high school, we’ve designed a variety of special activities and programs just for you. The Club is a safe place to hang out, have fun, and spend time with friends. Plus, our dedicated Teen Center is exclusively for you and your peers. The Club is open every day after school and on most holidays—just call or stop by to become a member. We’d be happy to give you a tour and help you complete a membership form.
Our Teen Center offers plenty of spaces for you and your friends to relax, play games, and enjoy different activities.
No need to worry about getting stuck playing with younger kids—unless you want to! Leadership opportunities are everywhere, giving you the chance to captain athletic teams, coach or referee games, run tournaments, or lead projects for younger members.
Your Club experience is what you make it. In addition to hanging out with friends, there are many programs to explore. If there’s something you’d like to see that we don’t currently offer, talk to the Teen Director about how to get it started.
The Club Teen Center
Ages 14-18
Young adult members ages 14-18 will enjoy their own space within the Club at the new Teen Center building.
The Teen Center features a game room with two billiard tables, air hockey, table tennis, a café (a small business opportunity), and two HDTVs. Members can relax in a teen-only space, catch up with friends after school, participate in various teen programs, receive job readiness training, complete college applications, join our GED program, and enjoy a range of leisure activities.
Learn more about The Club Teen Center here.
Family PLUS, Parents Leading, Uniting, Serving
The Family PLUS initiative enables Clubs to partner with families and collaborate with community agencies to support youth development through programming, resources, and guidance.
Youth for Unity
Through a comprehensive set of interventions, the Youth for Unity program promotes and celebrates diversity while combating prejudice, bigotry, and discrimination.
My Future
MyFuture is Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s self-directed skill-building platform, with digital programming that encourages youth to learn new skills, earn career certifications, share creative projects and participate in events and contests.
Kids and teens can earn recognition for their work, keep track of their progress and journey on a learning pathway toward mastering a new skill.
Learn more at MyFuture.net!
NetSmartz
Using computer-based tutorials with state-of-the-art animation, the program engages younger participants with games and challenges teens with interactive quizzes. Lessons from these multimedia materials are reinforced through guidance and interaction with Club professionals.
Career Launch
Age 13-18
CareerLaunch prepares teens for the world of careers and work. Through CareerLaunch, Club teens 13-18 years old embark on a journey to explore possible vocations, make sound educational decisions and find success in the world of work.
CareerLaunch encourages Club members ages 13 to 18 to assess their skills and interests, explore careers, make sound educational decisions and prepare to join our nation’s work force. Club staff or volunteers help teens build their job-search skills and job readiness by using the CareerLaunch Facilitator Guide and working with teens individually or in small groups. The CareerLaunch page provides Club teens, staff and volunteers with online career exploration, college and job search information and interactive activities. Mentoring, job shadowing and training opportunities round out the program.
Junior Staff
Age 14-18
Junior Staff is a program for Club teens ages 14 to 18. It provides Club staff and volunteers with the tools to help young people prepare for careers in Boys & Girls Clubs or other nonprofit and service professions. Through participation in Junior Staff, teens develop interpersonal skills, a strong work ethic, and a sense of community engagement while gaining hands-on experience in Club operations. Junior Staff veterans may also qualify for summer counselor positions.
diplomas2Degrees
Age 13+
diplomas2Degrees (d2D), a college readiness program, provides a range of services to guide Club members as they work toward high school graduation and prepare for post-secondary education and career success.
d2D helps teens develop both short- and long-term goals, while familiarizing them post-secondary education through experiences like college tours. It also assists youth in securing financial aid and fosters supportive relationships with adults who can provide support throughout the college experience.
Money Matters: Make it Count
Age 13+
For more than 15 years, Money Matters: Make It Count has taught teens how to set goals, budget, save, and invest. In addition to staff-led financial literacy sessions, young people practice their financial decision-making skills through engaging digital tools and games. Teens who complete Money Matters show improved financial management skills, including saving money and sticking to a budget.
Our teens (Keystone Club) also run a store in the Teen Center, selling snacks, ordering supplies, and managing inventory. The store is self-sufficient and generates a profit, which the teens allocate as grants to local charities.
Boys & Girls Clubs pair youth with supportive Club mentors and volunteers to develop the financial skills that can lead to workplace readiness, lifelong financial stability and overall success.