BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF THE BEMIDJI AREA
1600 MINNESOTA AVE NW, BEMIDJI, MN 56601 www.bgcbemidji.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: TO INSPIRE AND ENABLE ALL YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO NEED US MOST, TO REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AS PRODUCTIVE, RESPONSIBLE AND CARING CITIZENS.

PROVIDE YOUTH, AGES 6-18, A SAFE AND AFFORDABLE PLACE TO HAVE FUN, LEARN LIFE-ENRICHING SKILLS AND BUILD POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH CARING ADULTS AND PEERS. PROGRAMS PROVIDE YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES TO ACHIEVE ACADEMIC SUCCESS, CHOOSE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AND GROW INTO CARING AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS. THE CLUB IS OPEN AFTER SCHOOL AND IN THE SUMMER, TIMES WHEN YOUTH ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE ON THEIR OWN AND IN NEED OF POSITIVE EXPERIENCES AND OPPORTUNITIES.

THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE BEMIDJI AREA SERVES YOUTH AND THEIRFAMILIES IN A COUNTY WHERE 25 PERCENT OF CHILDREN LIVE AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL - AN ALARMING DISPARITY GAP AS THE STATE AVERAGE IS 9.6 PERCENT OF CHILDREN LIVING AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL. THE CLUB DELIVERS AFFORDABLE PROGRAMS ON A DROP-IN BASIS TO YOUTH AGES 6-18 AFTER SCHOOL AND IN THE SUMMERTIME, TIMES WHEN YOUTH ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE ON THEIR OWN AND IN NEED OF POSITIVEOPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES.BY THE NUMBERS: THE CLUB SERVES BETWEEN 400-600 YOUTH ANNUALLY. DAILY CLUB ATTENDANCE RANGES FROM ABOUT 140-175 A DAY DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AND 120 A DAY IN THE SUMMERTIME. THE CLUB CHARGES $125 FOR SCHOOL-YEAR MEMBERSHIP AND JUST $1/DAY FOR SUMMER MEMBERSHIP. THIS DONOR-SUPPORTED FEE STRUCTURE ENSURES THE CLUB IS AFFORDABLE TO CHILDREN OF ALL INCOME LEVELS. NEARLY 65 PERCENT OF CLUB MEMBERS COME FROM FAMILIES AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL. AND 36 PERCENT COME FROM SINGLE-PARENT HOUSEHOLDS. ABOUT 43 PERCENT OF CLUB MEMBERS IDENTIFY AS WHITE, 28 PERCENT IDENTIFY AS AMERICAN INDIAN, AND THE REMAINING AS OTHER OR MIXED ETHNICITIES. CLUB PROGRAMS ARE SUPPORTED BY 7 FULL-TIME STAFF, 10 PART-TIME STAFF, 21 BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS SERVING AS YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS, AND 500-600 ADULT VOLUNTEERS IN CALENDAR YEAR 2019.FUNDING: THE CLUB FUNDS ITS MISSION THROUGH PRIVATE DONATIONS, COMMUNITY BUSINESSES, PRIVATE AND CORPORATE FOUNDATIONS, AND GOVERNMENT GRANTS. 75 PERCENT OF FUNDING IS FROM INDIVIDUAL AND BUSINESS DONORS. FUNDING IN 2019 INCLUDED $66,681 OF IN-KIND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND A PARTNERSHIP WITH BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY AND NORTHWEST TECHNICAL COLLEGE TO HIRE STUDENTS IN VARIOUS CLUB POSITIONS (FUNDED 75 PERCENT BY FEDERAL WORK-STUDY COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM).MISSION AND SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES: ALTHOUGH THE CLUB SERVES BETWEEN 400-600 YOUTH ANNUALLY, THE FOCUS IS ON EACH INDIVIDUAL CHILD. THE CLUB BUILDS RELATIONSHIPS THAT HELP YOUTH DISCOVER THEIR OWN POTENTIAL AND RECOGNIZE THEMSELVES AS VALUABLE AND INTEGRAL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.STAFF KNOW EACH CLUB MEMBER BY NAME. AND THOSE TEENS AND CHILDREN MOST IN NEED WORK INDIVIDUALLY WITH TRAINED MENTORS.PROGRAMMING FOCUSES ON BUILDING ACADEMIC SUCCESS, HELPING YOUTH ADOPT HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AND GROWING INTO CARING AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS. ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR CLUB PROGRAMS IS ITS GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE. ALSO, TEENS HAVE THEIR OWN TEEN CENTER WITHIN THE CLUB.ACADEMIC SUCCESS: ALL CLUB YOUTH ARE ENCOURAGED TO SET ACADEMIC GOALS, GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND TO CONSIDER POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION OR JOB TRAINING. CLUB MEMBERS SPEND AT LEAST 30 MINUTES DAILY DOING HOMEWORK AT THE CLUB, READING QUIETLY, PLAYING EDUCATIONAL GAMES LIKE MATH DODGE BALL OR WORKING WITH A TUTOR. CHILDREN WHO STRUGGLE WITH READING WORK WITH READING TUTORS OR PARTICIPATE IN THE BEMIDJI AREA CANINE READING PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS THEM TO READ TO SPECIALLY-TRAINED DOGS. YOUTH ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER LAB, AN ART ROOM, CLUB LIBRARY AND STEM ACTIVITIES. CLUB MEMBERS CAN COMPETE ANNUALLY IN A NATIONAL FINE ARTS CONTEST.HEALTHY LIFESTYLES: CLUB YOUTH ARE ENCOURAGED TO ENGAGE IN POSITIVE BEHAVIORS THAT NURTURE WELL-BEING, AVOID HARMFUL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE, SET PERSONAL GOALS AND GROW INTO SELF-SUFFICIENT ADULTS BY PARTICIPATING IN DAILY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, MAKING HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES AND DEVELOPING AN APPRECIATION FOR THE OUTDOORS. THE CLUB SERVES A HEALTHY, NUTRITIOUS AFTER-SCHOOL SNACK AND LUNCH IN THE SUMMERTIME. CLUB YOUTH HAVE THEIR OWN GARDEN AND OUTDOOR LEARNING CENTER WHERE THEY GROW AND LEARN TO PREPARE FRESH PRODUCE, HOST THEIR OWN FARMER'S MARKET FOR CLUB FAMILIES AND PREPARE AN ANNUAL COMMUNITY HARVEST DINNER. IN THE SUMMER, THE CLUB SENDS A SELECT GROUP OF TEENS TO A WEEKLONG WILDERNESS CANOE ADVENTURE THROUGH THE CANADIAN WATERS OF LAKE OF THE WOODS AT A DEEPLY REDUCED COST, NEARLY 90 PERCENT DISCOUNTED, TO PARTICIPANTS THROUGH SUBSIDIES BY THE CLUB AND CLUB PARTNERS.GOOD CHARACTER AND CITIZENSHIP: CLUB YOUTH FOCUS ON COMMUNITY SERVICE VOLUNTEERING AT THE CLUB AND IN THE COMMUNITY. SERVICE BUILDS LEADERSHIP SKILLS, COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND A SENSE OF WELL-BEING. EVERY YEAR, CLUB TEENS VIE FOR THE LOCAL CLUB TITLE OF "YOUTH OF THE YEAR" WITH THE CHANCE TO COMPETE AT THE STATE, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL LEVELS. YOUTH OF THE YEAR PARTICIPANTS EARN SCHOLARSHIP MONEY FOR POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION. CLUB YOUTH OF ALL AGES RECEIVE RECOGNITION FOR POSITIVE BEHAVIOR.

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