Special Programs

Our Valparaiso, John Will Anderson Gary, South Haven and Duneland Clubs empower youth to make beautiful music! Assisted by technology, Club members write, edit, compose and produce their own creative musical compositions. Below is a sample of beats created by Club members.

Hear the beats created by members!

Quintin’s Final Project:

Molly’s Final Project:

Josef’s Final Project:

Clarence’s Final Project:

Alec’s Final Project:

Charlie’s Final Project:

Our Club members are not only exercising through a daily running Club program, but they are mapping the miles they run across America. By logging each state they reach on the map, they learn fun facts about individual states, and raise a state flag in the Club for each state they explore. All age groups are encouraged to participate.

Our Club members turn building blocks into machines as they create moving objects from Legos in the Club’s new STEM Lab. With an emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – the Club’s STEM Lab is stocked with games and educational opportunities for kids of all ages. Kids use their hands and minds to build things rather than to power a video game controller. The STEM Lab is equipped with Mac computer, large plasma screen television, robotics, hydraulics, and interactive electronics.

Our Clubs offer the popular Code for a Day program, created by Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Club members learn computer programming, including how to write code for game design, web design, or other technology-driven creative projects.

Through fun, interactive lessons, My.Future teaches youth essential digital literacy skills that promote success in school and the job market. Kids are encouraged to showcase their work and earn recognition in the form of stars, badges and master badges, building a positive self-image through online achievement.

NetSmartz is an Internet safety program produced with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children with age-appropriate interactive lessons and activities. Employing computer-based tutorials with state-of-the-art animation, the program delivers games to younger participants and interactive quizzes to teens. Lessons learned through these multimedia materials are reinforced through interaction with and guidance from Club professionals.

In our Clubs we encourage creativity. With our fine arts program, members are able to express themselves through art whether it’s clay molding, sketching, 3D print making or coloring. Every year, we participate in the national Fine Arts Festival. Members can enter their artwork and complete on a local, regional, state and national level.

Our Clubs have had several National Fine Arts winners. Member artwork has traveled the states and featured in the headquarters at Boys & Girls Clubs of America.