Boys & Girls Club Services of Greater Victoria has responded to the needs of children and youth in Victoria for 50 years. Read about some of our recent achievements and hear stories from people whose lives have been impacted by our work.
Between 2007 – 2010 we:
- Provided services to 6,000 individuals
- Raised $4.4 million to fund programs and support the purchase of our 98 acre camp
- Run 30 programs, over half of which focus on ‘prevention’
- Served over 35,000 breakfasts to children before school supporting educational achievement
- Created memorable (yet affordable!) summers for 1,400 kids at our summer camp, 70% of those kids received ‘camperships’ or subsidized places through our fundraising efforts
- Provided 315 high risk youth the opportunity to explore the wilderness through our Coastline Challenges Camp
- Provided Adventure Based Learning inspired programming to 2,688 participants at our Metchosin Camp
- Given hundreds of teens safe, supportive housing through our network of 40 care home families
- Provided support for over 800 parents through parenting programs
- Enlisted the help of 800 volunteers to support our programs and fundraising activities
- Maintained over 100 partnerships with community organizations, funders and businesses
Hear how our services have touched people’s lives
“As I sat down to think about my experiences at camp, I realized how much camp has affected me. Everything I have done, every great experience I’ve had are all connected to camp... Something I did, someone I met, something I learned, everything that I have done today, camp was the center of it all. Everything else was just a ripple that camp had created.”
Clay – Former camper, youth leader and staff
“I was surprised at how much strength I gained as I persevered through the tough moments on our journeys. I enjoyed getting to know the instructors and the feeling I would get from their frequent encouragements. As we climbed Mt. Albert Edward I was amazed at the beauty that surrounded me and was thrilled to strand on top of the Island’s second highest mountain and soak in the incredible view. This view, however, was not the only reward that I received during that time. The greater reward had been achieved within myself. It was a true reward, unlike any temporary high that I had achieved from drugs. This reward seemed to even give me hope for my future during that time in my life when there seem to be no hope. Perhaps I finally realized, deep down within me, that if I was able to learn the necessary skills for climbing that mountain and surviving in the wilderness, then maybe I could achieve similar accomplishments in my own life.”
Jeremy – Coastline Challenges Graduate
“Boys and Girls Club means safety and inclusion for my children. As the mother of two special needs children, I have the same concerns as other parents regarding after school care...I know they are receiving healthy snacks, getting lots of physical exercise, lots of arts and craft time and of time to just have fun! In addition, my children have the opportunity to learn how to socialize and practice their social skills in a supported way, and I know that they are truly loved by the caregivers who work at Boys and Girls Club.”
Mary - Mother of two participants with Autism Spectrum Disorder
“The Boys and Girls Club Summer Camp is a great place where I can go and have so much fun, meet new people, and learn so many new things everyday... There aren’t only leaders to help everybody, but there is youth leaders also that come from great training programs that teach them to become leaders... Summer Camp has had a big impact on my life.”
Jeremy – Former camper
“My son... has been attending the drop-in after school during the school year. The outcome was that, during that first summer, [his] confidence soared! There isn’t a better gift that the staff could have given him.”
Jan - Mother of participant