Character & Leadership

At Boys & Girls Clubs of Marion County, we empower members to contribute to their community and the Club and to celebrate their own and others’ cultural identities. We support them in real-world activities that develop leadership skills, instill the importance of building meaningful relationships, and help them to become role models among their peers.

  • Torch Club

    Torch Clubs are chartered​ small-group leadership and service clubs for boys and girls ages 10-13. A Torch Club is a powerful vehicle through which Club staff can help meet the special character development needs of younger adolescents at a critical stage in their development. Torch Club members learn to elect officers and work together to implement activities in four areas: service to Club and community, education, health and fitness and social recreation.

  • Junior Staff

    Young people prepare for future roles as human services professionals by participating in career development activities, discovering the importance of community service, building customer service skills and completing a Club apprenticeship. Junior Staff is a small-group program that is both practical and user friendly. It assists Club Members in exploring a career in youth or human services, particularly Boys & Girls Club work. Junior Staff provides members with age appropriate skill building opportunities and hands on Club work experience in four areas: Career development, Apprenticeship, Customer Service and Community Service.

  • “I didn’t think people cared for others until I started coming to the Club!”

—Haley, age 14