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Serving Albany & Rensselaer Counties
ABOUT
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area (BGCCA) is a 501c3 non-profit organization that provides youth services including AfterSchool, Summer, Camp, and Teen programs. Following the Boys & Girls Clubs of America curriculum, our programs provide access to academic success, caring mentors, healthy meals, as well as exposure to sports, technology and The Arts. BGCCA serves 1,000 youth daily in Albany & Rensselaer counties.
This organization operates two Clubhouses, one on each side of the Hudson, in Albany and Troy, NY. Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany and Troy Boys & Girls Club, both iconic institutions serving their respective communities since the turn of the last century, merged in 2019 to become Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area.
Since 2014, BGCCA (formerly Troy Boys & Girls Club) has operated a licensed kitchen which now feeds more than 200,000 youth annually, including Club operations and other community youth organizations.
In addition, BGCCA (formerly Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany) has been operating Universal Pre-Kindergarten classes in partnership with the Albany School District since 1998. We operate in 26 classrooms in Albany, Cohoes and Watervliet. BGCCA is one of the only Clubs in the country to offer independent UPK programming.
BGCCA holds a Gold standard from Candid and Four-Stars from Charity Navigator, which demonstrates transparency and trust to corporate donors like AT&T and Taco Bell, as well as community support including local unions and partner organizations.
About BGCCA
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Youth Enrichment
The Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s (BGCA) research-based Formula for Impact offers BGCCA a guide to follow for programming at all Club locations. It enables a holistic approach to youth development that encourages healthy habits, self-esteem, and helps develop independence and interpersonal skills. Collectively, these skills assist our outcome based programming in which programs are focused in five core areas. These areas include; Character & Leadership Development, Health & Life Skills, The Arts, Sports, Fitness & Recreation, and Education & Career.
Together, they encompass our three priority outcomes; Academic Success, Good Character & Leadership, and Healthy Lifestyles. The Formula for Impact is an equation that takes young people who need us most plus an outcome driven Club experience to equal the three priority outcomes.
Below, we examine the critical importance of these priority outcomes.
Academic Success
Inspiring a love of learning in and out of the classroom.
At Boys & Girls Clubs, one of our top priorities is ensuring all youth have the tools and support to be successful both in life and at school.
Afterschool academic support helps kids stay on track throughout the school year, while fun and engaging summer programming combats summer learning loss in areas like math and reading.
Art classes and science experiments. Individual tutoring and daily homework help. Boys & Girls Clubs ensure young people in the Capital Area have the resources to stay on track to graduate from high school on time with a plan for their future.
Character Development
The Club emphasizes character development to foster responsible, caring, and engaged citizens through programs that build skills like leadership, social-emotional learning, and a positive self-image. Key areas of importance include:
Responsible and caring citizenship: Programs focus on helping youth become active and supportive members of their communities by encouraging them to participate in civic life and volunteer.
Leadership skills: Structured opportunities for youth to develop leadership qualities, make decisions, and learn to plan and contribute to their Club and community.
Social and emotional learning (SED): Character development is built on a foundation of SED, which includes developing self-awareness, managing emotions, building positive relationships, and problem-solving skills.
Positive self-image: Club programs and mentorship help youth develop a stronger sense of self-worth and confidence, which is essential for making good choices and setting goals.
Respect for others: Character programs teach the importance of respecting themselves and others, including their cultural identities, and develop empathy and good communication skills.
Core character traits: The development of character is tied to specific traits, including respect, fairness, trustworthiness, responsibility, caring, and citizenship.
Healthy Lifestyles
The Club promotes healthy lifestyles through programs that focus on the "Mind, Body, and Soul," aiming to improve youth nutrition, physical activity, social-emotional skills, and overall well-being.
Mind: Addresses how personal beliefs and positive modeling influence health behaviors. Includes nutrition education and activities to help youth assess and practice healthy habits.
Body: Focuses on physical literacy, such as basic movement skills and overall fitness. Encourages participation in sports and games to build confidence and motivation for lifelong physical activity.
Soul: Emphasizes social and emotional development, including emotional regulation, healthy relationships, and responsible decision-making.
Importance for youth
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Builds the knowledge and habits needed for lifelong health and well-being.
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Develops self-confidence and resilience.
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Empowers youth to make healthy choices and manage their emotions.
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Encourages a foundation for healthy and happy lives.
BGCCA Mission
Our mission is to inspire and enable young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential to become productive, caring responsible citizens.
Club News
