Boys & Girls Club of Lake County

From Club Skills to Real Impact. At a recent fundraiser hosted by Buffalo Wild Wings, our Club youth put their business skills to the test - selling bottles of hot sauce and the ingredients to make them to support the Boys & Girls Club of Lake County! For every item sold, Buffalo Wild Wings generously donated $1, and the partnership ran throughout the month of October. Everything they practice at the Club showed up that day - communicating, supporting each other, and tackling new challenges. They handled the whole fundraiser with so much heart. Every bottle sold = more opportunities, more learning, and more impact. Because when youth lead, great futures really do start here. A big thank you to the Waukegan Buffalo Wild Wings for welcoming our youth and helping make this experience possible. . . . #GreatFuturesStartHere #BGCLC #BoysandGirlsClub #Waukegan #BoysandGirlsClubofLakeCounty #ClubKids #CommunityImpact #AfterSchoolPrograms #NonProfitsofInstagram #KidsNeedClubs #YouthDevelopment #Fundraiser #GivingBack #BuffaloWildWings #YouthEntrepreneurs

Big News! We’re so excited to share that one of our incredible Boys & Girls Club of Lake County members was just crowned Junior Miss Waukegan - and we couldn’t be more proud! The Junior Miss Waukegan pageant celebrates confidence, character, and community, and she brought all of that (and more!) to the spotlight in the most genuine way. With this title, she’ll spend the next year representing Waukegan at community events, connecting with local leaders, and using her voice to make a difference. And we already know she’s going to shine in every moment. Moments like this remind us why we do what we do. When our youth are supported, encouraged, and given room to grow, they step confidently into their potential. Join us in celebrating her incredible achievement! . . . #GreatFuturesStartHere #BGCLC #BoysandGirlsClub #BoysandGirlsClubofLakeCounty #ClubKids #CommunityImpact #BuildingGreatFutures #BecausOfYou #AfterSchoolPrograms #NonProfitsofInstagram #KidsNeedClubs #YouthDevelopment #JuniorMissWaukegan #PagentLife #GirlPower

Proud to see the Boys & Girls Club of Lake County featured at the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) Youth Symposium! Kudos to our CEO - Germain Castellanos, Director of Operations -JP Arangure, and Programming Manager - Devea Williams for showcasing how youth apprenticeships are creating real pathways for teens in our community. Grateful to NAWDP for highlighting this important work and the impact it’s making for our youth.

The Power Behind 574. That’s the average number of young people who walk through the doors of our 11 Boys & Girls Club of Lake County sites every single day. 574 chances to listen, support, mentor, encourage, and show up. 574 moments where homework gets finished, confidence grows, friendships form, and support is always within reach. 574 opportunities to help shape a future. This number isn’t just attendance - it’s impact. It’s what happens when a community invests in its youth and creates safe, supportive spaces where they can learn, lead, and thrive. Thank you to everyone who makes this work possible for 574 kids every day. Together, we’re building stronger futures, one day at a time. . . . #GreatFuturesStartHere #BGCLC #BoysandGirlsClub #BoysandGirlsClubofLakeCounty #ClubKids #CommunityImpact #BuildingGreatFutures #BecausOfYou #AfterSchoolPrograms #NonProfitsofInstagram #KidsNeedClubs #YouthDevelopment

Sweet success in the kitchen! Our 3rd and 5th grade Club members rolled up their sleeves for another Cooking Matters session - a hands-on program that teaches kids how to make healthy, affordable meals while building confidence in the kitchen.   The week’s featured dish was strawberry shortcake! Each young chef followed a recipe card, practiced cutting and measuring, and learned how small steps in the kitchen can lead to big lessons in nutrition and independence. Moments like these are what the Boys & Girls Club is all about - empowering young people to discover their potential, build strong character, and develop skills that last a lifetime. And the best part? Every chef agreed - the dish was delicious! . . . #GreatFuturesStartHere #BGCLC #BoysandGirlsClub #BoysandGirlsClubofLakeCounty #HealthyHabits #KitchenConfidence #ClubKids #CommunityImpact #BuildingGreatFutures #BecausOfYou

Hands-on learning at its best! Earlier this fall during STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math), our Club youth put their creativity and problem-solving skills to work by building and painting birdhouses. They finished their projects by adding birdseed and finding the perfect tree nearby to hang them. What began as a simple project turned into an opportunity for our youth to explore creativity, design, and teamwork - proving that at the Club, learning goes way beyond books and classrooms. Learn more about the Boys & Girls Club and the difference we are making together - check out the link in our bio! . . . #bgclc #greatfuturesstarthere #boysandgirlsclub #bgca #learningbydoing #educationmatters #futureleaders #steam #communityinaction #bgclakecounty #waukegan #nonprofit #nonprofitsofinstagram

Kitchen Ribbon Cutting Highlights - Thank You To All Our Partners: https://conta.cc/48XV1Ki

You're Invited - Kitchen Ribbon-Cutting Celebration: https://conta.cc/4pf6YB6

Thank you to DJ Moore of the Chicago Bears and JCPenney's Hawthorne for creating an unforgettable back-to-school experience for 20 Boys & Girls Club of Lake County youth. Our Club members had the chance to meet Mr. Moore, snap photos, and shop together for the new school year. We’re grateful for community partners who invest in bright futures for kids. #GreatFuturesStartHere #PartnershipInAction

During a recent field trip to Synergy Flavors, our Club members explored the exciting world of flavor chemistry—experiencing firsthand what it’s like to work as a flavor chemist. Outfitted in lab coats and goggles, they engaged in hands-on learning and left with gift baskets in hand and new career aspirations in mind. We’re grateful to Synergy for their incredible hospitality and commitment to youth exposure and learning. Special thanks to BGCLC Board Member Tamika Jones, MHRIR for helping make this meaningful experience possible. These are the kinds of opportunities that help shape our young people’s futures. #CareerReadiness #YouthDevelopment #BGCStrong #GreatFuturesStartHere #STEMCareers #CorporatePartnerships