Providing fun, innovative academic programs
for youth and teens.
Today’s young people need opportunities to build the skills that support success in the classroom
and beyond. At Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities, Club members develop core competencies
through engaging hands-on learning experiences that make academics relevant and meaningful.
Our North Star goal remains clear: ALL Club members on track for a successful future beyond high
school graduation.
Through BGCTC’s Academic Success programs, youth strengthen literacy and math skills while
exploring subjects that spark their curiosity! This includes STEM programming like robotics,
coding, engineering, environmental science, esports, and video game design. They work with mentors,
participate in STEM field trips, and complete hands-on projects that connect learning to real-world
challenges. These experiences help members build the academic foundation, confidence, and skills
they need to succeed in school and beyond.
This year’s Success Ahead campaign is running now through September 30, 2026, and your support
ensures that every Club member is prepared to succeed in the classroom and in life.
Learn more about our Academic Success programs, read
inspiring youth stories, and make your gift today!
Together, we can help every young person build a brighter future.
-Terryl Brumm | President & CEO
Your gift to Success Ahead will directly support critical needs for young people this school year:
$25: Three books for literacy programs
$50: Ten STEAM kits for hands-on learning
$100: “Welcome Back” school supplies bucket for one BGCTC Club member
$500: 15 Lexia Reading/Literacy Student Subscriptions
$1,000: Week-long in-person Academic Success programming for 10 BGCTC Club members
STEM JAM
We hosted our first-ever STEM JAM event at Donaldson Company Headquarters! Club teams prepared for months to create STEM projects and compete. Projects included volcanoes, coding, a light up life jacket, and more.
NEW We Will Write Program
We Will Write is an interactive Platform used by grades 5-8 that turns writing into a collaborative, game-based experience. Responding to creative prompts and voting on the most vivid passages, members collectively write together to make the program extra engaging!
Success Ahead: Reading and Literacy Enrichment
At the clubs, we know the importance of learning through play and strive to provide exciting, hands-on activities to make learning fun! This summer, the youth at our Jerry Gamble club had a blast working on their sight word recognition…
Success Ahead: Nia’s Story
Mia is a fifth-grade student attending the Jerry Gamble Club in North Minneapolis and a BGCTC Club 52 Member, meaning she attends the Club often. From fall to winter, she moved from the high-risk category in reading to the some-risk category and raised her cumulative score by 15 points…
Success Ahead: Amelia
Amelia*, a third grader, began attending the Boys & Girls Club this summer to receive academic support. When Amelia first started attending the Club, she was very shy and reserved. Over time, the Club has brought out her energetic side! Ms. Kelsey, a staff member,...
Literacy: The Foundation of Lifelong Learning and Education
- High-impact small-group model based on the Science of Reading
- Quarterly FastBridge Reading assessments for all K-8 youth
- 30 BGCTC staff members are currently enrolled in the Lexia Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) two-year certification program.