The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County (BGCSCC) is to inspire and enable all children, especially those who need us most, to build character and confidence and to realize their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. We do this by providing safe places filled with opportunity, enriching programs, and caring adults who actively cultivate relationships to ensure that our youth feel connected, supported and valued.
We offer daily after school programs five days-a-week at our downtown Santa Cruz, Live Oak, and Scotts Valley Clubhouses for youth ages 6 to 18. We also host summer and holiday day camps and offer a range of special interest programs.
Our Big Idea for 2026 is to ensure every local child has access to affordable, high-quality out-of-school programs by providing youth scholarships. These programs promote learning and growth with caring adult mentors, regardless of financial circumstances. As living costs rise, our Clubs offer crucial support for working parents, helping them manage their responsibilities.
We expect to serve approximately 1,800 youth from hundreds of local families that rely on our services this school year. We apply scholarship funds across all of our programs, providing families with more than $375,000 in financial assistance over the course of a year. These numbers are likely to grow as additional families move into the new apartments being constructed in Downtown Santa Cruz and across the County.
Our child is an only child and thrives on being around other children in a safe environment. The club allows us to work longer hours and we are happy to know our child is safe and enjoying themself at the club!
Anonymous Club Parent, Santa Cruz
