Back to School, Back to Club

Karson's Boys & Girls Club Journey

The first day of school marks new beginnings—fresh notebooks, sharpened pencils, and big goals for the year ahead. At Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield, it also means welcoming our members back into a safe, supportive environment where they can grow beyond the classroom.

For Karson, the Club has been much more than just a place to go after school. It has been a home away from home, a space where she feels safe and supported. 

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“All I wanted was to be at the Club,” Karson shared. “That’s how I got through the tough times. The staff were always there for me.”

At the Club, Karson found consistency and encouragement through caring adults and impactful programs like Positive Action. She says those lessons and conversations helped her learn how to process her emotions and believe in herself.

Now, she’s paying it forward—encouraging others to embrace their feelings and reminding her peers that their emotions matter. “I feel like I am a better person from being able to feel my feelings, and that I am able to help others with theirs now,” she said.

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Karson’s journey reflects what so many Club members experience: a fun, safe space; an environment where they can be who they are, and become who they are meant to be. In fact, 93% of Club members say the adults at the Club truly care about them and believe they will be a success. These caring relationships make all the difference, helping youth build resilience and confidence. 

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Last year, Karson was named our Jr. Youth of the Year, a recognition of her character and leadership. This year, she’s starting the school year at our Risdal Family Teen Center for Great Futures, a space designed to empower even more young people to reach their full potential.

The Risdal Family Teen Center represents a new chapter for our community. With dedicated spaces for studying, mentorship, leadership development, and career readiness, the Teen Center will give teens the tools and support they need to build their own Great Futures. For members like Karson, and for hundreds of teens across Springfield, it’s a place to feel safe and connected, a place to belong. 

As we step into a brand-new school year, we celebrate stories like Karson’s.

The Boys & Girls Club isn’t just an afterschool program. It’s an extended family, and it’s a place where kids discover that they aren’t alone.