What we do
At the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater New Haven (BGCGNH), we are dedicated to building great futures for children, youth, and families in our local communities. Our Clubs offer safe, joyful, and energizing environments where kids and teens are welcomed daily, entering a world where they are celebrated, encouraged, and inspired.
Healthy Kids, Healthy Behaviors
At our clubs, kids build lasting friendships, discover favorite games, and overcome new challenges. They receive positive, supportive, and encouraging mentorship that will enrich their lives now and learn lessons that will transcend their childhoods.
Having supportive adults to turn to, even if they are not a parent or a guardian, is a protective factor in a young person's life. Our staff models healthy behaviors in a safe and stable environment, providing kids with the positive guidance to make good decisions.
Social-Emotional Learning
Out-of-school learning is integral to the social and emotional growth of school-age youth. This type of social and emotional learning has improved attendance, grades, and behaviors in school. All of which, sets up youth for a prosperous, gainful future.
Programs
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater New Haven is proud to deliver proven national program models customized for the unique needs and interests of our local kids and teens.
Our evidenced-based programming includes:
Project Learn
All ages
Project Learn reinforces academic enrichment and school engagement for young people.
Triple Play
All ages
Through increasing daily physical activity, teaching Club Kids about good nutrition, and helping them to develop healthy relationships, Triple Play serves as a comprehensive health and wellness program that strives to improve the overall health of members ages 6 to 18.
SMART Girls
Ages 8-17
SMART Girls teaches healthy habits, fitness programming, prevention practices, and self-esteem to girls ages 8 to 17.
Passport to Manhood
Ages 11-14
Passport to Manhood teaches responsibility to boys ages 11 to 14 with highly interactive activities focused on specific aspects of character development.
Torch Club
Ages 11-13
Torch Clubs are small-group leadership and service clubs for boys and girls ages 11 to 13, meeting the special character development needs of younger adolescents at a critical stage in their lives.
Money Matters: Make It Count
Ages 13+
Money Matters: Make It Count teaches 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 fun and engaging digital tools and games.
Keystone Clubs
Ages 14-18
This unique program for teens provides leadership development opportunities, both inside and outside the Club, in three focus areas: academic success, career preparation, and community service.
Teen Club
High School
Teen Club offers workforce development activities focusing on youth economic development and college readiness, including soft skills building and career exploration. It also offers Open Club Night, which features low-organized activities, giving teens a chance to connect in a supportive environment.
Our Impact
At our Clubs, we believe all young people deserve to thrive. Thriving begins with physical, mental, and emotional well-being, but also involves being grounded in a sense of identity, meaning, and purpose. Young people thrive most when they’re seen as and feel competent in many areas of their lives.
96% of our kids believe “The adults at this Club believe that I will be a success.”
88% of our kids believe “I can talk to an adult at this Club if I have a problem.”
Become a Member
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater New Haven provide a safe and inviting place for kids and teens, from kindergarten through high school.