The Mountains You Will Move

Our Story

For 38 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County (BGCLC) has been focused on building a better tomorrow for youth. Our unique operating model allows us to offer the most affordable and comprehensive out-of-school services for youth, eliminating the financial barriers that many families face. Additionally, we offer financial assistance to ensure no family or child is turned away due to the cost of Club programs.

BGCLC serves over 2,000 youth annually at 9 club locations in Fort Collins, Loveland, Wellington, and Estes Park.

Today’s youth are moving mountains. Through career exploration and leadership programs, behavioral health services, and mentorship, BGCLC equips youth to rise above barriers and forge their paths. All funds donated to this campaign will go directly to supporting youth programs.

Our Mission

To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

Who We Serve: 

• 83% of our families are considered low income according to HUD income limits 
• 44% of our youth come from single-parent households 
• 2,000+ youth served 

Youth Are Moving Mountains

Youth are moving mountains, and we are dedicated to helping them overcome obstacles and forge their own paths.  Club is a place where youth are empowered to: 

• Take on and overcome challenges 
• Exercise their voices and shape their Club experiences
• Discover new passions

“I have been supported through emotional times. Like when something happens where I’m sad, angry, or just feeling emotions I can’t control. During those times, the staff has been there for me.“ - Oscar, 2024 Youth of the Year Club Winner, Estes Park Elementary Club

Through career exploration, leadership development, supportive mentorship, and essential behavioral health services, we empower youth to overcome obstacles and forge their own paths.  Our goal is to nurture meaningful skills that prepare young people to make a positive impact in their communities.

You Are Exploring What is Possible 

Summer of Discovery—our full-scale summer program focused on workforce exploration and academic enrichment for middle school students—has been growing steadily over the past four years. In 2024, Summer of Discovery served over 150 middle schoolers every day across three sites, partnering with 20 businesses and organizations across Larimer County to provide unique, hands-on workforce exploration experiences. Participants in the program were able to partake in over 18 engaging field trips to places like the CSU Powerhouse, Colorado Youth Outdoors, Forge Art Campus, and an active Dohn construction site. 

Youth Are Building Essential Skills

Character and Leadership Skills

Character and leadership development in youth are self-reinforcing; when young people are able to learn and practice leadership, their skills and confidence increase, making them more likely to get involved in leadership activities and, in turn, gain more experience. At BGCLC youth can participate in character and leadership programming including Torch Clubs and Keystone Clubs—small group leadership clubs affiliated with BGCA’s national program for members ages 11-18, Youth of the Year participation—BGCA’s leadership development and recognition program, and SMART Moves a program designed to help young people develop healthy decision-making attitudes and skills.

Creativity and Innovation Skills

Youth participate in programming that lets them put their creativity into action! They design and print 3D objects, create mixed-media art projects, and engage in unique opportunities like BGCLC’s Shark Tank where individual students and teams created new product prototypes and pitched them to the volunteer Sharks (leaders and business owners in the community) for expert feedback.

Skills to Cope with Challenges

An explicit focus on building social-emotional skills not only prevents negative academic and health outcomes from occurring, but it equips young people with the social tools they need to successfully navigate the complexities of home, school, and work. Our Club members currently benefit from Behavioral Health Services including Social Emotional Learning Groups and one-on-one therapy sessions through our nationally-recognized Behavioral Health Team. 

Your generous contributions will go directly toward these vital services, helping us create safe environments where every child can thrive.

Colorado Child Care Tax Credit

When you donate to Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County, you can reduce your taxes with the Colorado Child Care Contribution Tax Credit. Monetary donations qualify for this credit and may decrease the after-tax cost of your gift by more than 50%. Please consult with your tax advisor for more information.