Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metropolitan Area

Get an inside look at a Boys & Girls Club location.

In essence, the Clubs are like country Clubs for kids. The equipment, programs and even the colors of the Club are designed with youth in mind. All of the Boys & Girls Clubs in Portland have a games room, where kids can learn to play pool, foosball and other interactive social and recreational games; a gym, in which youth have the opportunity to try their hand at new sports or be part of organized leagues in flag football, basketball and soccer; an Art Room, where youth have the opportunity to try fine arts, learn about famous artists, get messy with creative projects or experience photography first hand; a Learning Center, where kids can learn to use computers, learn safety while using the internet, read a book or get assistance with their homework. We also offer teen rooms for older members and dedicated teen time in many program areas for our older youth. This allows teens the opportunity to learn and explore programs without younger kids.
The front desk is a hub of activity at the Clubs with members checking in and members leaving for the day. We ask that parents wait at the front desk area while staff contact and retrieve their children when it is time to go home at the end of the evening. This area is also a great location for parents to look for notices about upcoming programs, schedule changes or find interesting facts or details about the Club.
Members are asked to check in at the front desk with a staff member when they enter the Club. They use a membership card that is issued to them once they have signed up as a Club member. This card is used throughout the day at the Club: from check in, to checking out and using games room equipment, to obtaining time on the computers. This helps to teach youth about belonging and responsibility, which prepares youth for responsibilities outside the Boys & Girls Club.
Front desk staff greet members by name, welcome them to the Club, and ask them how they’re doing, how their school day was, etc. After scanning in their membership cards, kids hear a personalized greeting created by the computer software.
Members can choose from a host of activities offered each day at the Club. Club staff post the day’s program schedule on the wall, showing what will be taking place in each room every hour.
Once youth have entered the Clubs they will see and interact with countless trained and caring adult professionals who run programs and activities. In addition, youth will see high school and adult volunteers who have been trained to run specialized programs in the Club in collaboration with the trained adult professionals. Youth will also see a host of other youth; some from their school and some from other schools in the surrounding areas.