Youth & Community Centers
Select an organization:
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Boys & Girls Clubs
Camp Fire USA
Girls Inc.
Jewish Community Centers
YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association)
YWCA (Young Women's Christian Association)
These organizations offer many different activities for young people. Most have a variety of after-school and summer programs that may include sports and fitness, the arts, homework help, technology training, game rooms, health education, leadership training, camping, and teen centers. These organizations are non-profit, and offer financial assistance to those unable to pay full fees. They are open to children of all faiths, ages, abilities, and incomes.
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Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters is the largest youth mentoring program in the United States. Volunteer "Bigs" spend one-on-one time with their "Littles," usually two to four times a month, forming friendships and doing fun activities together. Big Brothers Big Sisters programs can be found in youth centers, schools, churches, and other service organizations. The programs is for children and teens, ages 5 to 18. High school students can volunteer to be Bigs.
Boys & Girls Clubs
Boys & Girls Clubs offer a safe and fun place for kids to go to learn, to play, and to become proud members of their communities. Memberships cost from $5 to $10 per year, and no child is turned away because of inability to pay. Members choose from a wide variety of programs in such areas as arts and crafts, homework help and tutoring, technology, leadership training, career exploration, health and life skills, sports, fitness, and other recreational activities. Many Clubs have gymnasiums, game rooms, craft centers, photography labs, teen centers, and learning and technology centers.
Camp Fire USA
Camp Fire USA's mission is to build caring, confident youth and future leaders. Local councils offer programs such as youth leadership, self-reliance, after school groups, camping, environmental education, community service, and child care. All Camp Fire programs are open to boys and girls of all backgrounds. Scholarships are available for kids who cannot afford to pay.
Girls Inc.
Girls Inc. tries to help girls be strong, smart, and bold. Programs include math, science, and technology education, drug abuse and pregnancy prevention, media literacy, health, money management, violence prevention, self-defense, sports, and leadership training. Most Girls Inc. centers are in low-income areas and offer after-school, weekend, and summer activities for girls ages 6 through 18. Some programs are also open to boys.
Jewish Community Centers
JCCs offer a wide range of educational, cultural, social, and recreational programs for people of all ages and backgrounds. In addition, JCCs include specialized programs for the Jewish community. JCCs have strong early childhood programs, including child care and preschools, as well as summer camps, after-school programs, sports, arts classes, and other activities for school-age children and teens.
- To find the nearest JCC in your neighborhood: Find a JCC
YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association)
YMCAs run all sorts of programs, including sports, camping, swimming, child care, and other programs for children and teens. YMCAs are the largest network of community service organizations in the United States, with over 2500 Y's nationwide.
YWCA (Young Women's Christian Association)
YWCAs serve women, girls, and their families, and focus on racial justice and empowerment for women. YWCAs try to meet the needs of girls and women in their communities by offering services such as career counseling, job training, child care, teen programs, rape crisis intervention, domestic violence assistance, self-defense, and fitness training.
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