Frequently Asked Questions
What is Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County? 
Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County is an organization dedicated to helping kids. We’ve got a great Club facility and four school-based sites offering a range activities to interest any child, including computer labs, arts and crafts, homework help, sports and so much more!
What is the mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County?
Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County’s mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.
How long have the Clubs been serving youth in St. Joseph County?
The Boys’ Club of South Bend was founded in 1974 in a garage on South Bend's southwest side. In 1991, Boys Clubs of St. Joseph County officially welcomed girls and changed its name to Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County.
What kinds of programs and activities do the Clubs offer?
Nationally recognized programming is offered in five core areas:
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1. Character and Leadership Development: Kids learn to be leaders through service to their Club and their community. Our programs empower kids to sustain meaningful relationships with others, develop a positive self-image, participate in the democratic process and respect their own and others’ cultural identities.
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2. Education and Career Development: Kids can explore education and career opportunities with the guidance of mentors and role models. BGCSJC trained staff and quality programs also provide help with homework, reinforce math and science skills, teach computer skills and take members to visit local and out-of-state colleges.
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3. Health and Life Skills: Programs are designed to teach kids how to engage in positive behaviors that nurture their own well-being, set and reach personal goals and live successfully as self-sufficient adults.
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4. The Arts: Kids can express their creativity and talent at the Clubs. We offer programs that include daily arts and crafts, ceramics, painting, dance, music, and woodworking, just to name a few.
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5. Sports, Fitness and Recreation: Kids build not only healthy bodies, but strong character and sportsmanship, as well. They can choose from team sports such as basketball and football or individual activities like martial arts, dance, weight training, swimming and a lot more.
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What makes Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County special?
Four key characteristics define the essence of a Boys & Girls Club. All are critical in exerting positive impact on the life of a child:
1. Dedicated Youth Facility: The Boys & Girls Club is a place - an actual neighborhood-based building - designed solely for youth programs and activities.
2. Open Daily: The Club is open every day, after school and on weekends (for special events), when kids have free time and need positive, productive outlets.
3. Professional Staff: Every Club has full-time and part time, trained youth development professionals, providing positive role models and mentors. Volunteers provide key supplementary support.
4. Available and Affordable to All Youth: Clubs reach out to kids who cannot afford, or may lack access to, other community programs. Dues are a low $40 per school year.
Do the Clubs’ programs work?
The Boys & Girls Clubs experience nurtures young people’s well-being and helps them reach their full potential through one-on-one relationships with qualified, caring adult professionals and fun, age-appropriate, well-rounded programming. Our Club programs are effective because they:
• Meet members’ interests, as well as their needs
• Build on members’ strengths
• Are staffed by qualified, caring adult professionals
• Provide members with challenging, interesting activities
• Promote learning and healthy development throughout the Club experience
• Focus on achieving specific outcomes
• Are carefully researched, designed and field-tested
• Are continually assessed and evaluated
Who Do Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County serve?
Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County serve more than 2,000 kids, ages 6 - 18, annually.
- 75% of BGCSJC’s families have annual household incomes of $30,000 or less.
- Only 22% of BGCSJC members live in a two-parent household.
When are the Clubs open?
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Regular School Year
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Date
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Hours of Operation
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Days of Operation
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South Bend
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O.C. Carmichael, Jr. Youth Center |
2:30 - 6:00 PM
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Monday - Friday
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Harrison
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2:00 - 6:00 PM
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Monday - Friday
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Wilson
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2:00- 6:00 PM
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Monday - Friday
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Mishawaka
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Battell
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3:00 - 6:30 PM
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Monday - Friday
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LaSalle
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3:00 - 6:30 PM
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Monday - Friday
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Summer Schedule
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Date
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Hours of Operation
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Days of Operation
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South Bend
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O.C. Carmichael, Jr. Youth Center
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7:30 - 5:30 PM
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Monday - Friday
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Harrison
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7:30 - 5:30 PM
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Monday - Friday
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Wilson
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7:30 - 5:30 PM
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Monday - Friday
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Mishawaka
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Battell
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7:30 - 5:30 PM
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Monday - Thursday
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LaSalle
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CLOSED
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CLOSED
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Monday, July 25, 2011
2010 Report to the Community
Read our Report to the Community for 2010. Read about the stories of change and transformation that our clients went through. Click here for the report.
Thursday, December 01, 2011
FALL 2011 NEWSLETTER
Thursday, December 01, 2011
Boys & Girls Clubs Evolution: Members Making the Grade
Once thought of as a place for neighborhood kids to hang out and play ball, today the Boys & Girls Club provides evidenced based programming in education, the arts, health and wellness and character and leadership development in addition to recreational activities for school children of all ages.
Thursday, December 01, 2011
Learning Across the World: Boys & Girls Clubs Members Awarded Two-Year Internships in Oceanography
Clubs members Devyn Jackson, age 14, and Tashawn Reese, age 16, were two of nine students selected from hundreds of international applicants for JASON’s National Argonaut program. During their two-year oceanography internship with The JASON Project — an independent 501(c)3 operated in association with National Geographic Society — Devyn and Tashawn will apply and expand the knowledge they have gained through their Immersion Learning experiences at the Club.
Monday, January 23, 2012
JANUARY IS NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH!
JANUARY IS NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH!
Last week Boys & Girls Club President & CEO Bruce Greenberg participated in a lively discussion about mentoring on WNIT's Economic Outlook. Bruce was joined by Dr. Gina Shropshire and Craig Horvath, Chair and Vice-chair of the Dream Team mentoring program for the South Bend Community School Corporation. Hosted by Phil D'Amico, the program underscores the positive impact mentoring has on the social, educational, and emotional development of children, particularly those from at-risk environments.
Latest News...
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