Thank You to the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation!
We're so thankful for the generous financial support we received from the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation! We recently hosted our friends from the foundation at the Club to discuss this amazing partnership. Stew and Kim Leonard established the foundation to educate children and families about water safety, particularly by providing access to swimming lessons for kids who might not otherwise have them. The Foundation was established in memory of their son, Stew Leonard III, who tragically drowned at a young age. This donation enables us to provide swim lessons to kids attending our Pre-K 4 program in our Gingerbread House Nursery School.
Halloween at the Club!
Halloween at the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton was a spooktacular celebration that brought kids together for several days filled with fun activities! The festivities included Halloween-themed parties where our young members enjoyed a variety of spooky snacks, from creepy popcorn hands to broom-shaped pretzels and mummy juice boxes.
One of the highlights was the incredible array of costumes. The kids showcased their creativity by dressing up as everything from superheroes and princesses, to classic monsters and whimsical creatures!
We are especially grateful to Carter’s for their generous support this Halloween. A dedicated team of volunteers helped our Gingerbread kids enjoy a special trick-or-treating experience, visiting not only Clifton City Hall but also the police station, the fire department headquarters, and all around the club. Their involvement ensured that every child had a safe and enjoyable experience while collecting treats from our supportive local community. A heartfelt thank you to Carter’s for making this Halloween truly memorable for our kids and for supporting our vital programs!
We also want to extend a special thank you to our amazing staff, whose hard work and dedication made this celebration possible. Their enthusiasm and creativity brought the Halloween spirit to life. We are lucky to have such a passionate team that goes above and beyond for our members.
From all of us at the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton, we hope you had a happy and safe Halloween!
Afterschool Gardening and Nature Education!
At The Boys & Girls Club of Clifton, an amazing garden is flourishing, thanks to the hard work of our afterschool kids and the support of City Green. These young gardeners are growing a variety of produce, including cucumbers, grape tomatoes, radishes, fall lettuce, spinach, and more. This garden serves as a hands-on learning space where kids develop responsibility, teamwork, and a care for nature.
One standout activity from the garden was been the seed collection activity. The children gathered seeds from dried plants and then decorated their own seed packets to store them. This project not only allowed them to express their creativity but also provided important lessons about the plant life cycle.
Another exciting project for them was making bird feeders out of pine cones. The kids attached birdseeds to the pine cones and hung them from tree branches for the birds to feast. This activity helped them learn about local wildlife and the ecosystem.
City Green’s partnership has been instrumental in teaching the kids about gardening practices. As they plant, water, and harvest, they learn valuable lessons about nutrition and the joy of growing their own food. These activities empower them to make healthier food choices and foster a lifelong appreciation for gardening and nature.
The garden at The Boys & Girls Club of Clifton is more than just a growing space; it’s a community where children learn, create, and connect with the environment around them. By engaging in these experiences, they are developing skills and knowledge that will benefit them for years to come. Here’s to many more seasons of growth, learning, and fun!
Exciting Updates at the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton
The Boys & Girls Club of Clifton is thrilled to announce some fantastic updates to our clubhouse! We’ve been hard at work creating spaces that foster creativity, learning, and play for all children.
One of our most exciting additions is the brand-new STEM lab! This space is dedicated to exploring science, technology, engineering, and math. Club Kids will have the opportunity to learn essential skills that are increasingly important in today’s digital world, including coding. Our STEM lab includes many desktop computers for our kids to engage in hands-on learning!
Creativity is important for kids to boost their imagination, problem-solving, and emotional expression. Our updated art room is the perfect place for kids to practice these skills. With brand new tables, this room is ready to inspire our growing artists. We can’t wait to see the amazing artwork that comes from our talented members!
Additionally, our updated game room has been a hit! Equipped with ping pong, pool tables, and a variety of board games, this space is designed for fun and friendly competition. The game room is not just a place to play; it’s also a space for teamwork and social skills. Whether it’s a friendly ping pong match or a strategic board game, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!
These updates not only enhance our facilities but also create an environment where members can mingle and choose their own activities that match their personal interest! Whether they want to dive into coding, unleash their creativity in the art room, or challenge friends in the game room, there’s something for every kid.
We understand the importance of outdoor play, especially for our youngest members. Which is why our playground has been resurfaced to provide a safe and fun environment for our young Club Kids! The brand new turf is PFAS free, and a great place for kids to run around, explore, and have fun!
We invite all families to come and check out our newly updated facilities. We can’t wait to see our members make the most of these new spaces!
More Scenes from Camp Clifton
Big Smiles :)
Mr Gabe joins in on Field Day!
The Beginning of our Indoor Gardening Program!
Trip To Rock the Spectrum
Trip To Catch Air
Trip to Camp Hope
Scenes from Camp Clifton
Arts & Crafts
Jr. Chefs learning how to make apple turnovers
First Field Day of the Summer!
Field trip to Liberty Science Center!
BGCC announces our 2024 Youth of the Year—Deijah Kelly!
Deijah Kelly, a senior at Passaic County Technical School, has spent countless hours at the Club while growing up in Clifton, and is grateful to the Club for providing her with so many opportunities that allowed her to embrace her talents and develop confidence in herself. The Club’s STEM activities were a great match for her critical thinking skills, leadership opportunities expanded her world view, and volunteering in the larger community provided invaluable satisfaction.
BGCC welcomes TEENS!
Our Club is proud to have a thriving community of more than 80 high school age teens. From our Keystone Club Kids, to those learning and growing in their first paid employment experience, to our new basketball team, our expanding teen program is developing the next generation of productive, responsible, and caring citizens. These teens come from diverse backgrounds and are learning and growing together at the Club. Some of their favorite activities include cosmetology, teaching dance classes, and developing professional skills as Youth Development Professionals (YDP’s), while they build confidence and character and, of course, have fun.
Pickleball Anyone?
Our Club is happy to open our gymnasium up to those in the community that wish to partake in this wildly popular sport! There is currently no charge to play, it’s included in our $60 annual membership dues. So come on down to the Club Gym for Open Play between 11 am and 2 pm.