The Boys & Girls Club is a place for children and youth to belong

Kids need a third place. A place beyond home and school.

When young people have a safe and supportive third place, outside of home and school, they can find connection, belonging and community. The Boys and Girls Club (BGC) of Canada openly promote “a third place for kids”, highlighting the importance of that space and how local BGCs provide it for children and youth.

Why Kids Need a Third Place

Young people need the next safe place with trusted adults that they can rely on. They need a place that welcomes them with people who will notice when they’re not there and wonder where they are. When young people experience this relationship in a place they belong, they can build confidence, discover meaningful opportunities, and feel safe being their authentic selves.

If you think back to your own childhood, you might remember where your third place was. It could have been a place like scouts, a summer camp or a sports team. What did that place mean to you? How did it impact you? It’s important that we connect our kids to their third place.   

“I think children and young people have an overwhelming desire to belong. We don’t appreciate that as much as we should. If you’re not an athlete on a sports team, you might not easily have that space,” said David French, Co-Executive Director of BGC Strathcona County.

When kids don’t naturally have a safe, nurturing space or caring mentor outside a parent or caregiver, they can miss out on those benefits. Moreso, it’s important to remember that not every home provides a safe and nurturing space. For those kids, it’s easy to slip through the cracks and miss out on the support and opportunities they need.  

It’s the community's responsibility to ensure that children and youth have access to a supportive third place. Organizations like the BGC take that responsibility seriously and rise to meet the needs of children and youth across the country.

Growing Up with the BGC

The BGC Strathcona County has served children and youth for 25 years, and BGC Canada has been around for over a hundred years! Through a range of programming and services, they provide a welcoming environment for kids to play, learn, share a meal, connect with caring mentors and have memorable experiences.

These safe spaces, positive relationships and life-changing programs have a meaningful and lasting impact on young people from any background.

David shared the example of an artistic teen who painted a picture of the way they feel when they’re at the CanTEEN Youth Hub in Sherwood Park. It was bright and positive, showing a young person standing with a peaceful confidence.

This positive impact can start before a child is even in school, and many BGC kids grow up with the Club, moving through programs as they get older.

“BGC has programming for young people from age three through 24. Kids come into our programs, and we see them truly being themselves. They gain a sense of ownership of the club because they’re part of it, have helped build it and are the literal heartbeat of the place,” said David.

There are current BGC staff members who participated in BGC programming as children. They grew up having a third place and benefited from belonging, connection, and supportive relationships. Now they contribute to the organization’s operation and programming, and serve as positive role models for today’s kids and teens.

“We work hard to design and curate an organization and programming that meets the developmental needs of young people across their upbringing. Think of all the meaningful moments a young person can experience over 21 years of BGC programming. They have all these opportunities. If we didn’t exist, where would they have gotten that support and experienced that?”

All Kids Are Welcome at the BGC

Regardless of any barrier, all children and youth are welcome at the BGC. Their soul mandate is to serve young people through inclusive programming and activities that focus on healthy living, personal growth, learning and community connection.

Here are some programs offered by BGC Strathcona County:

Nature Programs: ReWild Your Child and other nature programs provide a nurturing environment where pre-schoolers and early learners can explore the outdoors, engage in child-led play and learn through connections with nature.

Out-of-School Care: For kids in kindergarten to grade six, BGC’s licensed Out-of-School Care operates out of eight locations throughout Strathcona County, creating a safe and expressive space for kids to be themselves.

Public Night Programs: Drop-in evening programs offer flexible, affordable opportunities for kids to be active, creative, learn new things, make friends, and gain confidence.

The CanTEEN Youth Hub: A youth drop-in centre that offers supervised programming, activities, help with homework, community connection and a support system for teens in grades seven and older

NextGen: A BGC initiative that gives youth and young adults a platform to lead, connect and contribute to the future of their community.

Summer Programs: From day camps and adventure camps to youth activities and events, summer programming provides that third place for kids when they’re off from school.

The Boys and Girls Club of Edmonton offers similar programming. You can learn more at bgcbigs.ca. Whether in Edmonton, Sherwood Park, or another surrounding community, BGC shares the goal of meeting the needs of children and youth.

BGC provides a third place for kids.

“We have to actively engage kids in a third place. Kids need something to look forward to, something to celebrate and somewhere to belong. I love that parents and families can rely on us to be that extra light in their children’s lives,” said David.

For more information, visit scbgc.com or search #1thirdplaceforkids.