Boys & Girls Clubs of America was founded in 1860, by four women who believed that boys who roamed the streets should have a positive alternative. Similarly, Boys & Girls Clubs of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County (BGCHR) was founded in the Northeast Neighborhood by the Northeast Community Association to address gang influence and drug activity of young people. In 1991, Your Place After School (YPAS) was founded with a $20,000 HRHA sub-grant and opened its doors at the Lucy F. Simms Building in March of 1991, to 20 youth. Within two years of inception, the local community saw a decrease in gang activity and peripheral behaviors associated with gang membership. Therefore, in 1995, a task force was created to look at expanding YPAS’ reach beyond the neighborhood. Boys & Girls Clubs of Harrisonburg (and Rockingham County) (BGCHR) was chartered in December of 1995, to allow for that expansion. By 2003, the Club had added several more sites including South River (2002) and the Teen Center (2003).
BGCHR now has seven Club sites: Harrisonburg City’s original location at the Lucy Simms Center preteen and Teen Center, and then school-based Clubs for preteens at Stone Spring (2015) and Spotswood/Bluestone Elementary (2014) schools; Rockingham County locations are at Elkton (2009), Plains (2002) and South River elementary schools.
From its beginnings, BGCHR has focused on the development of the whole person by working on three priority areas of academics, youth wellness, and citizenship/character building. The Club implements numerous nationally proven programs, including Power Hour homework help, SMART Moves for Youth Wellness and Torch Club or Keystone Club to address civic engagement. Throughout our history, we have enhanced these programs by collaborating with local partners and with grant-funding. With BGCHR’s presence in our communities, the youth we serve have opportunities to grow and develop, creating bright futures.
Provide safe, inclusive Clubs where youth build meaningful relationships, feel belonging and hope, and gain opportunities that inspire growth, leadership, and lifelong success.
To equip youth to discover their full potential, find belonging, and build brighter futures
ICARE: Integrity, Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, Excellence
Academics are an important part of our philosophy to develop the whole child. We reserve time to ensure homework completion and can bring in tutors as requested to support academic growth.
Power Hour (daily): This program helps club members develop behavioral and social skills through homework completion, tutoring and high yield learning activities. Activities may include reading, writing exercises or skills practice worksheets.
STEAM (1-2 times a week)
These are activities that are science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics based. Activities may include science experiments, cooking, crafts, team building activities etc. PARTNER HIGHLIGHT: JMU STEM CORP
Physical and emotional health are the cornerstone of our programs and philosophy. A physically and emotionally healthy person can reach their full potential in all areas of life. BGCHR focuses on youth wellness through its programming and staff training.
Triple Play (every day)-This program’s focus is on physical exercise with a desire to help students build their individual desire to stay active! Activities may include organized group games, free play, team competitions etc.
Youth Wellness Program: In partnership with Madison Center for Community Development and the City of Harrisonburg Mental Health Fund, BGCHR works with groups of youth coping with anxiety and stress, trains staff on Trauma Informed Care, and is providing counseling services to targeted Club youth and families.
SMART Moves (2 times a week, fall)- stands for Skills Mastery & Resilience Training. The focus of this program is making healthy decisions by building social-emotional skills. Module subjects include emotional wellness; substance use and building healthy relationships. Curriculum for Social Emotional Learning is used from Emory University
Torch Club – ages 8 and up- is a “club within the Club,” helping to meet the special character-development needs of younger adolescents at a critical stage in their life. In Torch Club young people develop and strengthen their 21st-century leadership skills, giving them a firm foun dation of good character and integrity. Torch Club members work together to implement projects in the four focus areas: service to Club and community; education; health and fitness; and social recreation Keystone Club – ages 12 and up.
Keystone Club, ages 12-18, provides leadership development opportunities. Youth participate in activities in three focus areas: academic success, career preparation, and community service. Keystone members engage and socialize with peers, explore relevant issues, and develop skills to support and enhance efforts in their local communities.
Too Good for Drugs Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (2 times a week during grant sessions) - a prevention program proved to reduce the intent to use alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs among kids in grades K-12 with the objective of reduced students’ intentions to smoke ciga- rettes, drink alcohol and smoke marijuana using character-building activ- ities encouraging self-awareness and self-confidence to make positive choices in life.