Teens Take Chicago

Collaboration, community-building, and socializing were embraced by ten of our Keystone Club members at a four-day conference hosted by Boys & Girls Clubs of America in Chicago. This year, over 2,500 Keystone Club members from across the country came together to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the National Keystone Conference.

Keystone Club is an opportunity for Club youth ages 14 through 18 to engage in leadership development experiences. Here in Columbus, Keystone Club members meet weekly to discuss academic success, explore career preparation, and plan community service projects.

In Chicago, youth engaged in sessions that explored critical teen issues, promoted community service, and encouraged local action. In addition to the structured aspects of the program, teens networked with peers and shared their own community service success stories. One of the most inspiring experiences for Columbus teens was being exposed to other Boys & Girls Clubs’ community projects, encouraging them to bring action back to their hometown. When our teens weren’t at their regularly scheduled conference sessions, they capitalized on their travel by exploring The Bean and the Art Institute of Chicago.