Parent/Guardian Handbook 2026

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northland is part of a nationwide affiliation of local autonomous organizations and Boys & Girls Clubs of America working to help youth of all backgrounds, with special concern for those from disadvantaged circumstances, develop the qualities needed to become responsible citizens and leaders.

We are dedicated to ensuring that our community’s youth have greater access to quality programs and services that will enhance their lives and shape their futures. As young people experience the totality of the Club it becomes a place of hope and opportunity.

The Clubs are facility-based, have over 50 paid professional staff supplemented by part-time volunteers, and offer daily access to a broad range of programs that promote the health, social, educational, vocational, character and leadership development of youth served.

Each day, hundreds of boys and girls take advantage of the programs, activities, and services provided by the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northland. They benefit from trained, caring, professional staff and volunteers who help young people take control of their lives, envision productive futures and achieve their goals.

Our goal is to provide a world-class Club experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who enters our doors. With all members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle.

Parents and guardians play vital roles at the Boys & Girls Club. It is important that the parents or guardians be involved with the growth and development of each member.

Our purpose at the Boys & Girls Club is to provide assistance to the parents or guardians with their children. You are the primary role model in your child’s life. By being involved with your child, you can instill moral values, gain trust, and share love. If a problem arises, please direct your concerns to a staff member. To schedule an appointment to discuss and resolve a matter, contact the branch director of that site.

Culture of Safety:

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northland continually updates robust safety policies, programs, and training for our staff and volunteers. These policies are designed to promote child safety and protect young people from threats that are present in our society.

Safety Policies:

BGCN has comprehensive safety policies that are in place to protect youth including, but not limited to, supervision, transportation, restroom use, and prohibition of one-on-one contact with anyone under the age of 18.

24-hour Toll-Free Child Safety Hotline:

We require all staff, members, and families to report any incident or situation they feel is unsafe. Through our national partnership with Praesidium, one of the nation’s leading safety experts, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northland members and staff have access to a confidential 24-hour, toll-free Child Safety hotline, 866-607-SAFE (7233) or email SafeClub@Praesidiuminc.com

Mandatory Background Checks:

BGCN Conducts criminal background checks through a continuous monitoring program on all employees, as well as every 12 months on all volunteers, who have direct, repetitive contact with children, and all board members. Background checks meet Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) membership requirements.

Mandated Reporting:

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northland staff and volunteers are all mandated reporters. We are required to report any critical incident/safety concerns to local authorities immediately. We are also required to report any critical incident to Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Annual Safety Assessments:

We conduct a safety assessment each year to ensure we continually make improvements to safety at our Clubs.

Safety Trainings:

Ongoing training and supervision of staff is critical.  We participate in a wide variety of child safety trainings each year. Training modules/themes include:

• Child Abuse Prevention
• Mandated Reporting
• Grooming Prevention
• CPR, First Aid, and AED Certification
• Emergency Response (including active shooter training)
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training

Non-Smoking and Drug-Free Environment

All facilities, properties, grounds, and events are smoking and drug-free. Alcohol, non-prescription drugs, and any other substances are strictly prohibited. Everyone is expected to report any smoking or drug use to a staff member immediately.

Board Led Safety Committee:

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northland has a dedicated safety committee to provide input and guidance on local policies and safety strategies.

Any person age 6 and 18 must have an active club membership in order to enter the Club. In some cases, a one-day guest-pass may be allowed at Branch Director’s discretion.

The full membership application, including all signature pages, must be completed by a parent/guardian each membership year. Membership spans differ across sites; consult with your site’s Branch Director for the current membership span and fee information. Membership & program fees must be paid at time of first attendance.

Membership applications and any program fees can be completed online at https://bgcnorthland.my.site.com/portal/s/

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northland does not turn anyone away due to an inability to pay. Please contact the site’s Branch Director for information on scholarships, financial assistance, and payment plans.

The Club offers daily access to a broad range of programs in five core program areas. Club programs foster a sense of belonging, competence, usefulness, and influence that builds self-confidence and self-esteem. Members are expected to participate in daily program activities while at the Club.

Character & Leadership Development empowers youth to support and influence their Club and community, to sustain meaningful relationships with others, to develop a positive self-image, to participate in the democratic process and to respect their own cultural identities as well as those of others. Examples: Keystone Clubs, Torch Club, Youth of the Year, and community service projects.

Education & Career Development enables youth to become proficient in basic educational disciplines, to apply learning to everyday situations, and to embrace technology to achieve success in a career. Examples: Power Hour, homework help, tutoring, reading help, computer/internet programs, and educational games.

Health & Life Skills develops in youth an understanding that positive behavior can nurture their own well-being, help set personal goals and help them live successfully as self-sufficient adults. Examples: SMART Moves, SMART Girls, Passport to Manhood, SMART Movies, cooking classes, and health and prevention programs.

The Arts enable youth to develop their creativity and cultural awareness through knowledge and an appreciation of the visual arts, crafts, performing arts, and creative writing. Examples: drawing, dance, painting, photography, sculpture, and drama.

Sports, Fitness, & Recreation develops youth fitness, positive use of leisure time, skills for stress management, sportsmanship, and social skills. Examples: team sports (baseball, basketball, flag football, soccer, volleyball); individual sports (track and field, tennis, golf, martial arts, wrestling and swimming); tournaments (billiards, table tennis, air hockey, board and table games).

Every Club member is responsible for his/her own actions. Members are expected to follow all the rules set forth in the membership application and participate in program activities while they are at the Club. The Clubs follow a positive behavior intervention model, and Club staff will make every effort to pre-teach the Club expectations to members.

In general, there are three rules that members must follow:

1. Respect yourself and others. Members are expected to treat other members with respect at all times.
2. Respect all staff and volunteers. Members are expected to respect staff and volunteers and follow staff directions at all times.
3. Respect all club property and equipment. Members are expected to clean up after themselves and refrain from littering or vandalizing Club property.

The following are strictly prohibited:

• Intentionally being in areas where there is no Club staff
• Swearing
• Verbal Abuse, aggressive language, and threats
• Fighting, aggressive behavior, play-fighting, or any other form of physical abuse or hands on behavior.
• Use or possession of controlled substances, weapons, or any tobacco product
• Theft
• Inappropriate and/or sexual physical contact
• Bullying and cyber bullying

If a member conducts themselves in a disorderly fashion and disregards Club expectations, they may experience consequences including, but not limited to: parent/guardian notification, loss of privileges, temporary suspension from Club programming, requirement for parent/guardian meeting, requirement for behavior contract, or termination of Club membership. When a member is suspended/expelled from their primary Club, they are suspended/expelled from ALL Clubs at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northland.

Safe Haven: Weapons and/or other items which may cause fellow members or others harm are not permitted ever. Everyone is expected to report any weapon to a professional staff immediately. We reserve the right to check any bags or other items at any time if we suspect danger to our members.

BGCN operates under a ZERO TOLERANCE Policy for unruly behavior exhibited by parents/guardians of Club members. To clarify, under no circumstances will we tolerate aggressive and/or threatening behavior, profane language, & disrespect towards any Club staff, face-to face or over the phone.

The Club reserves the right to refer to outside agencies, including law enforcement, if necessary.

Your child must be enrolled and actively attending school to be a member of the Boys & Girls Club. If your child did not attend school, excused or unexcused, they will not be allowed to attend Club that day.

The Clubs use a membership tracking system called MyClubHub to track attendance and information in real-time. Your child is expected to check in at the front desk immediately upon arrival to the Club.

Any individual picking up a member must appear on the child’s authorized pick-up list which parent/guardian’s list in the membership application. Please notify Club staff as soon as possible if you need to add/remove any authorized contacts. Front desk staff will request ID cards for authorized contacts upon their arrival.

Parents may be able to call the front desk to request that their child be sent out to a vehicle if they have previously arranged this with Club front desk staff. Members may not leave the Club unescorted unless a parent/guardian has completed the walker authorization section of the membership form.

Once a member checks out for the day they are not permitted to return to the Club until the following day. Members that leave for a doctor’s visit, sports practice, or other situation approved by the Branch Director may be allowed to return to the club. Members who leave without permission may face disciplinary actions including suspension or termination of membership.

Boys & Girls Club staff are not responsible for any members that leave the Club unescorted/unsupervised whether by parent’s request or otherwise.

Our program times are posted at each site and are strictly adhered to. Your child is expected to have transportation secured before Club closing time. In case of emergency, it is your responsibility to secure alternate transportation for your child. If your child is at the Club after closing time, we will attempt to contact a parent/ guardian and/or emergency contact. If we are unable to get in touch with the parent/guardian or emergency contact after a 40-minute window, we reserve the right to contact local law enforcement and/or Child Protective Services.

If you are going to be late, please call the Club to make the staff aware of your situation. These instances should be few and far between.

Chronic late pick ups may result in suspension from the program or termination of membership.

Throughout the year there may be opportunities for field trips. Invitation to participate in a field trip is at the discretion of the Branch Director and we will do our best to ensure equitable opportunity for invitations. The best way to ensure an invitation is by regularly participating in related program activities.

For each field trip, a parent must sign a specific consent form prior to departure. Returning a completed consent form, however, does not guarantee participation. Club staff reserve the right to limit participation due to staffing capacity, behavior issues, or any other reasonable circumstance.

It is important that parents and guardians cooperate with the health and emergency procedures. Our regulations are designed to protect the well-being of our members.

If your child becomes ill at the Club, parent/guardian will be notified. Do not bring your child to the Club if they are ill before leaving home. Members who come to the Club sick WILL be sent home.

If there are nits found on a child’s head, a notification will be sent home with information regarding head lice, but if live lice are found, a parent/guardian will pick up their child and assume responsibility in the required treatment and will wait 24 hours after treatment before the child returns to the Club. If nits/lice are still present following treatment and 24-hour period, a parent/guardian will be notified immediately.

In case of an accident involving a member that requires medical attention, the staff will provide first aid to the best of their trained ability.

Club staff are not trained to administer medication of any kind, including over the counter drugs. Please do not send any medications with your child.

Emergency procedures and evacuation maps are posted in each room throughout the Club facility.

Club sites are open Monday-Friday after school as well as on many non-school days and over summer break. Hours vary by club location. For the most up-to-date information, visit https://bgcnorth.org/locations/  or contact the Club site.

Clubs are Closed:

• New Year’s Eve
• New Year’s Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Eve
• Christmas Day

*Some sites may be closed additional days due to custodial union contracts

In the event school is dismissed early, cancelled, or there is a cancellation of after-school activities due to severe weather, the Boys & Girls Clubs may not open. Site staff will notify families of any hours changes or closings as soon as possible via text, email, and social media. Please make plans and discuss your severe weather plan with your child(ren).

Members, parents, guardians, and staff are expected to follow Boys & Girls Clubs dress code at all times. Shoes must be worn at all times. Appropriate attire may be required for certain activities.

• See through or mesh clothing is not allowed.
• Garments must cover the midriff.
• Garments or accessories which display emblems relating to gangs, abusive substances, sex, or obscenities are not allowed.
• Undergarments should not be visible.

It is up to the discretion of the Branch Director as to what clothing is inappropriate. Your child may be asked to change clothing or leave the Club.

Members are allowed to bring their own devices to the Club; however, cell phones, tablets, iPads, and/or other electronic devices as well as toys are highly discouraged in Club programs. If members choose to bring their own devices, they may only be used in approved locations and must be on silent or mute. The Club prohibits the use of devices in locker rooms and restrooms and other areas where there is an expectation of privacy.

A phone is located at the front desk or office space of each Club site and members can request to use the phone. Members are asked to use the phone briefly, only to call parents or guardians. Improper use of the phone could result in a loss of privileges.

The Club reserves the right to monitor, inspect, copy, and review a personally-owned device that is brought to the Club. Parent/Guardian will be notified before such an inspection takes place and may be present during the inspection.

Parents/Guardians may refuse to allow such inspections, but the member may be barred from bringing personally owned divides to the Club. In addition, the Club reserves the right to suspend or expel a member for not following this policy. The Boys & Girls Club is not responsible for any personal belongings that are lost, damaged, left and/or stolen at the Club.

Network and internet access may be available to members to enhance their educational experience. Members are expected to follow all the rules outlined in the membership application form and must complete a Digital Literacy activity prior to using the Club network or devices.

If you do not want your child to utilize internet or technology while at the Club, please notify your site’s Branch Director.

Club staff are never permitted to communicate directly with Club members using personal devices or social media during or outside of Club hours.

Personal belongings should be properly marked and stored at the front desk. Articles lost or stolen are not the responsibility of the Club. Members must take home all projects and personal belongings daily. Lost and found items are collected and kept for one week. To claim an item in question, it must be described to a staff member at the front desk. After 90 days, all unclaimed items will be donated to a local charitable agency.

Pictures and videos are taken throughout the year by Club professional staff to use for promotional purposes. Please notify the site Branch Director if you do not give permission to have your child’s photo taken or videotaped.

Club members are not permitted to take photos or video of one another.

The Club also utilizes closed circuit video surveillance at some sites. BGCN does not give copies of any of our documents nor provide access to our video footage unless we receive a court order to do so.

Periodically, members are asked for their feedback by participating in surveys and questionnaires regarding their Club experience, behaviors, skills, attitudes, and beliefs. This information is used to let us know how we are doing, how we can improve our services, how we are making an impact, and for grant reporting purposes. Information gathered from these measures is reported confidentially and collectively. Please notify the site Branch Director if you do not want your child to participate.

We participate in the USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program that enables us to serve nutritious snacks and meals five days a week for kids, effectively curbing hunger for Club kids in the areas we serve. If your child has special dietary needs or restrictions, you should submit a special diet statement to alert the Boys & Girls Club staff of your child’s special needs.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.